ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release)- The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation (AACF), in partnership with the Aberdeen Area Arts Council and the Knight Aberdeen Fund of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is installing artworks on ten business windows in downtown Aberdeen in mid-May. The artworks were submitted in response to a Call for Art with a theme of “South Dakota Landscapes.” A judging panel selected the artworks to be displayed. It is the fourth year in a row for the Downtown Art Project.

Jason Hill, Aberdeen Area Arts Council executive director, has overseen solicitation of art proposals and judging. The Call for Art invited original art in various media, photographs of which will be installed as window clings. The AACF received a grant from the Knight Aberdeen Fund for the project. The purpose of the project is to beautify downtown with local art.

The project will award four cash prizes. Project judges included Northern State University art professor Jay Hopkins and the Arts Council’s Hill and Grace Chipman. They chose first, second, and third prizes, which will be announced in June. In addition, a People’s Choice award will be presented for the artwork that receives the most votes in a poll that will be conducted through the AACF website: www.aberdeencommunityfoundation.com. Voting will be open May 23-June 7. The first day of voting coincides with the Aberdeen Downtown Association’s Wine Walk.

The ten artists’ whose work will be featured are:

Blake Bierman, “Vacation”

Sarah Anastasia Davidson, “Super Cloud”

Nick and Nicole Fisher, “Transcendental Lens”

Roberta Goldade, “Sunrise”

Katie Haar, “Harvest Time”

Amy Heinz, “Sounds of South Dakota”

Allie Kunkel, “Birds Eye View”

Dawn Menning, “Fall Magic in the Hollow”

Anna Mitzel, “Memories I Hold”

Dave Swain, “Nature Conservancy”

In addition to practicing artists, the artists include two high school students and a sixth grader. Most are from Aberdeen, but some are from Brown County and beyond.

“It’s exciting to continue the Downtown Art Project for its fourth year,” AACF president Heath Johnson said. “We’re very grateful to the Arts Council for stepping up to run the project and to the downtown businesses who’ve made their windows available.” He added, “We encourage everyone to walk downtown to check them out and to vote for their favorite in our People’s Choice Award.”