RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Racing Magpie received $10,000 from Rapid City and the Rapid City Arts Council to support its programming.
Artist studios and a gallery are part of Racing Magpie’s mission to support native artists, but the organization sees art as more than objects that hang on a wall.
A community garden and elder in residence program — where native elders create programming designed to pass on Lakota tradition and culture — are also important parts of Racing Magpie.
“So it’s really important to focus on those cultural pieces as well and not just think of it as something on a wall and really think of it as being part of everyday life,” co-founder Peter Strong said.
Strong started Racing Magpie with co-founder Mary Bordeaux to give native artists a space to try unexpected things.
“There wasn’t a place like a gallery like this where native artists could step outside of – Mary calls it longhair, feathers and sunsets motif – these more stereotypical expectations of native artists and they could really experiment and try things and continue to grow,” Strong said.
Strong said funding like this is getting harder to find.
“Artists look at the world through such an incredible lens. I feel like if we had an artist at every table where decisions were being made around the world, we’d start solving some problems a lot sooner,” Strong said.
Racing Magpie’s gallery and events are free and open to everyone. More information can be found on their website at www.racingmagpie.org/.
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