From Classrooms to the Galleries: Students Take Over the Dahl

For Immediate Release: April 16, 2025
From Classrooms to the Galleries: Students Take Over the Dahl

The Rapid City Arts Council is handing the spotlight over to the next generation of artists with two student exhibitions taking over the Dahl Arts Center this spring: the BHSU Fine Art Senior Exhibition and the Best of the West Annual Juried High School Art Show.

Both shows will open to the public with a shared reception on Friday, May 9, from 5–7pm, featuring an awards ceremony at 6pm for the Best of the West exhibition. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet many of the student artists and experience the diverse range of artistic expression on display.

BHSU Fine Art Senior Exhibition
The Black Hills State University (BHSU) Fine Art Senior Exhibition will be on view in the Sen. Stan Adelstein & Lynda K. Clark Gallery from Friday, May 2 through Saturday, June 13. This annual capstone show features work by BHSU seniors graduating in May or December 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. The exhibit showcases a variety of media and techniques, including ceramics, photography, painting, textiles, and screen printing. Each piece represents a visual narrative developed by the student, demonstrating their growth as artists and educators.

Desy Schoenewies, a professor at BHSU, reflects on the artistic talent coming out of BHSU, “Over the years, we have witnessed our students' remarkable growth in creativity, ingenuity, and artistic proficiency. Through our rigorous curriculum, mentorship, and access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, students have been empowered to push the boundaries of their creativity and explore new artistic horizons.” She says, “The BHSU fine art student exhibition stands as a proof to their commitment to their craft and their endless potential as artists.”
This exhibit is generously sponsored by the BHSU College of Liberal Arts Fund and the BHSU Photography Program.

Best of the West Juried High School Art Show
The Best of the West exhibition runs from May 9 through May 31 in the Inez & Milton Shaver Gallery and the Denise Du Broy Gallery. This juried showcase features outstanding artwork from students at Central, St. Thomas More, Rapid City High, and Douglas High School. The selected works span a variety of artistic disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and drawing.

Best of the West continues to be a platform for young artists in our community to share their creative voices and be recognized for their artistic excellence.

Art is happening—don’t miss it! Visit rapidcityartscouncil.org for more information.

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For More Information:
Noah Geiger
Rapid City Arts Council
Dahl Arts Center
605.394.4101 x2
[email protected]

The purpose of the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) is to champion the power of art to bring all kinds of people together, making art more accessible, more integral and more inspiring for the communities we serve. RCAC was established by community leaders in 1968 and officially partnered with the city in 1974 to manage the Dahl Arts Center and expand arts and cultural resources. RCAC creates and supports diverse programming in exhibitions, performances, and educational classes. Supported by individual donors and organizations such as the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, John T. Vucurevich Foundation, the South Dakota Arts Council through the South Dakota Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, and others, RCAC is committed to enriching the community's artistic and cultural experiences. Located at 713 7th St in Downtown Rapid City, the center offers free admission and is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Discover more at rapidcityartscouncil.org.