Imagine a family is traveling through the area and just happens to stop at Wagner Lake for a short break. They get out of the car to stretch and also happen to notice something that catches their attention on the hillside on the north side of the lake. As they look a closer they also notice that what they saw appears to be some kind of art sculpture that also has some kind of multi-colored design covering the shape. This causes them to want to know more so they look even closer and realize there is not just one sculpture, but two facing the morning sun. They decide to actually take a walk around the lake to check it out. Once there they realize the shape they have seen is actually two different painted buffalo sculptures. They notice the beauty of the designs, the colors and the creativity that went into the design. Imagine how they might feel about this experience, the art, setting by the lake and even how they might begin to imagine what the community is like. Imagine what they might talk about with their friends back home. Imagine what they think when they also notice a plaque next to the sculpture and then discover the art sculptures were created because of the cooperation and partnership that took place between the Yankton Sioux Tribe and Wagner Chamber of Commerce so this moment could be experienced. We all recognize that buffalo are an enduring symbol of the Dakota plains and one that everyone around the world is drawn to when they think about this part of the world. And imagine what they will think when they also notice that the design on these sculptures were actually created by area students. Now imagine one more thing, the name of the sculpture designer is your name. Would you feel great pride? Will people wonder who you are and what kind of person you might be like? Imagine how you would feel knowing your name is listed for all to see for years to come. What if, as a parent, the name of the designer listed on turned out to be your child’s name? Imagine how you might feel. Now imagine that next year you discovered a new and different designed buffalo sculpture appeared on the hill side. Do you think someone might make a return trip to visit and how often? Imagine who visitors might tell others about this community, what they saw, what they felt. Have you ever encouraged someone else to see something special? It is often said, “ If you build it, they will come”! Imagine who might come and where they might come from. There is no imagination needed when contemplating what this will do to help our community and the way we even see ourselves through others eyes. Could you be that student designer with your name on the plaque? Could the designer be your child with their name on the plaque? Just imagine!

Imagining is great way to help visualize what is coming in the form of public art as part of the “Imagination Student Art Contest”, which is being held for the students of this area as part of the 605 Unity J.A.M. event to be held in June at Wagner Lake. The Wagner, Lake Andes and Marty students in grades 5-12 are being invited to participate in this special art design contest to help bring community art to life for all to appreciate and enjoy. The students are being given a blank art canvas of a sculpture shaped in the form of a buffalo and asked to create a design that others can enjoy seeing. Despite the fact that the shape is on paper, the students will then use colored pens, colored pencils or markers to create an original design that could then be transferred on to a fiberglass sculpture that is five feet tall and eight feet in length. The sculpture will be professionally painted to look like the design the student created and clear coated before being attached to a cement slab for stability and placed on the side hill on the north side of Wagner Lake. The students will develop their own artistic ideas of what the design could be.

The contest begins after the Easter break and students will then have approximately eight days to create their design and submit their work to their teacher so it can be entered into the art contest. The 605 Unity JAM Planning Committee, which consists of: Isabella Kreber, Jim Bridge, Vince Two Eagles, Roy King, Tiffany Hrdlicka, Alaina Bechen, Julie Weddell, Brenda Jaton, Yelly Turner, Jillian Beeson, Pam Redlightning, Jessica Chafin and Dana Sanderson will select the design winners for the contest.

The students are encouraged to use their imagination, creativity and talent to create their design. The ideas might represent the cultures of our area, the students own culture, it could reflect the landscape of this area or what unity in our community is or could look like or maybe it might reflect a special creative design the student chooses. Regardless of what they choose to design, this is an artistic piece of art that represents their own artistic interest and or ability to express themselves. Students can design both sides of this sculpture to look same or be different. They are limited only by their own imagination and creativity. The final selection for the final product may also include more than one students design.

This project is part of the activities involved with the “605 Unity JAM” event being created by the East River Horizons Team for Sunday, June 13 at Wagner Lake. The winning design or designs will be publicly announced and recognized. A special plaque will be created to list the student name or names selected along with the community partners involved the art project, which is the Yankton Sioux Tribe and Wagner Chamber of Commerce. Prizes will also be awarded to the winning student or students in the form of movie passes, snacks, gift cards and Wagner Bucks to be used at local businesses, in addition to special public recognition during the summer J.A.M. event. The contest begins after the Easter break and students will then have approximately eight days to create their design and submit their work to their teacher so it can be entered into the art contest. The 605 Unity JAM Planning Committee, which consists of: Isabella Kreber, Jim Bridge, Vince Two Eagles, Roy King, Tiffany Hrdlicka, Alaina Bechen, Julie Weddell, Brenda Jaton, Yelly Turner, Jillian Beeson, Pam Redlightning, Jessica Chafin and Dana Sanderson will select the design winners for the contest. Parents and guardians are encouraged to ask their child about the contest and encourage them to apply their talent and ideas to create their art idea for the beautification of our community. The event in June is designed to help draw attention to the importance of community unity, togetherness, acceptance, understanding and the appreciation of all the cultures and people of our area.