S.D. artists headline latest exhibition at Washington Pavilion’s Visual Arts Center

This paid piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

The idea that art reflects life is on full display in the newest exhibition at the Washington Pavilion – the work of two talented local artists.

The “Dear Diary” exhibition debuted this summer in the Everist Gallery and immerses visitors in more than 2,000 works depicting themes of everyday life, consumerism and pop culture by artist duo Erin Murtha and Noelle Vainikka.

Murtha began creating art at age 3 and has been selling her 2D and 3D textile work for about a decade, including in regional galleries and online. She’s also creative director and part project manager at Fresh Produce and assistant director at Ipso Gallery.

“I’d describe my work as soft, textural, colorful and humorous. Balance and color are probably my highest subconscious art rules,” she said.

“I make work to tell stories, and the stories are often subtle and layered, so the viewer can put themselves in as much as they desire. I use broad themes such as food or iconic memorabilia to describe my own memories. I enjoy working in textile due to its malleable nature, mimicking the nature of memory. I’ve been a bit obsessed with memory over the better part of a decade, so I don’t see myself straying from that any time soon.”

That’s in part because she has aphantasia, “which means I don’t have a visual memory, so I tend to preserve memory by locking it in with tangible pieces, so my work is very personal,” Murtha said.

“I also sort of secretly write poetry, which is almost always based on stories and others’ made-up lives from eavesdropping in public, and so that sort of imaginary and subtle crowdsourcing will sometimes find its way into my textile practice as well. I like to make up past and future and current lives and blend them, just like what happens when memory gets all mushy.”

Vainikka grew up in Minneapolis and moved to South Dakota to attend SDSU, where she double-majored in art education and English education. She comes from a family of 12 kids, which inspired a “creative and resourceful” upbringing, and currently is a high school art teacher in Watertown.

“My work has a lot of range and is quite experimental and playful; I work in multiple disciplines and mediums,” she said. “Frequently, it starts as a 2D drawing and expands into a larger series or installation depending on the subject/material. One of the main themes in my work is consumerism and material culture, and analyzing the things we buy, the meaning and memories these purchases and objects have for us throughout our lives, and the waste created when we later discard these objects.”

One drawing tends to become multiple drawings and variations, creating work that is “serial” in nature, she said.

“I am particularly interested in illustrating the confusion of the overabundance of marketing messages, news headlines and advertisements we encounter in our daily lives, and you will see this theme repeated throughout the gallery spaces in different applications,” Vainikka said. “Another theme you may notice with my work is that I often use unusual thrifted/found or recycled materials  — and this tends to inform the final aesthetic of the piece.”

Murtha and Vainikka connected online during the pandemic era and quickly realized that they had both friends and interests in common. They’ve worked together through the Ipso Gallery at Fresh Produce before collaborating on “Dear Diary” and creating a floor-to-ceiling exhibition of colorful artwork.

“It takes you — the viewer — along a pathway of artwork that is relatable and relevant to the average person,” Vainikka said.

“You will begin your journey in a grocery store and continue through various fast-food and convenience stores, go through an outdoor area and then into a house, ending in a kids’ playroom and girl’s bedroom. Memories and reflections on everyday life are scattered along the way in various iterations.”

The exhibition creates a connection point across generations — something that can appeal to artists and nonartists in a way that could jump-start creativity, Murtha said.

“We want folks to leave the show more inspired in their own lives. You get absolutely inundated with color and imagery, like you are on a daily basis, but we compacted it down. I think of it as the story of a day in the life of a teenage girl in the late ’90s. You are shopping with your family in the grocery store, and on your way home, you pass by all this trash and nonsense and this convenience food that you sort of elevate in your life. As we get closer to home, we add in more of an outdoor feel, which includes memories of summertime parks and playful things. Then, you get home, the kitchen and the place of welcoming and gathering. You go through living room, bathroom, computer room, and they’re sort of this imagination play area, and on to the most important part — the girl’s room! Then, we also added a section just with our own inspiration and practice to share more of our process with no real added story element to the figure’s existence.”

The idea was to create an exhibition that people can relate to and experience in a unique, approachable way, Vainikka added.

“We designed an immersive concept with the intention for you to find ways to connect with the artwork and insert your own memories to complete each piece. At times, you may be unsure whose art you are looking at until you read the tags — this is part of the fun!” she said.

“You’ll notice that our work flows pretty seamlessly together. We both draw from similar inspirations and influences. We both love color — especially pink — pattern and texture/material play and are inspired by everyday moments and nostalgic memories. There are many images and references that should hopefully resonate as universal. This show is truly for everyone.”

The exhibition was brought to the Visual Arts Center “because the themes these two artists explore in their work are relevant to our daily lives,” lead curator Jana Anderson said.

“They explore consumerism, nostalgia and ideas of ‘home’ in such an innovative and engaging way. People of all demographics can connect with this artwork, and I’ve personally witnessed patrons of all ages thoroughly delighted as they go through the gallery. Erin and Noelle are two unique artists that together have really pushed the boundaries of installation art and set a new standard for creativity in our community. They thought beyond individual art pieces and instead thought about the entire experience of a viewer.”

The work reflects the quality of artists who live in South Dakota, Anderson said.

“They are both prolific makers that balance careers, lives and creativity in an inspiring way,” she said. “You don’t have to leave Sioux Falls to see high-end art experiences! I am personally inspired by what they have accomplished with this exhibition.”

“Dear Diary” runs through Dec. 1. And, check it out soon, because something like this is unlikely to resurface, Vainikka said.

“The opportunity of the show length and gallery size was rare to come by, which is why we took it to the extreme! You have to see it to understand the true mammoth size/magnitude of what you are about to see. This show has so much included that you could come back multiple times and see something different or that you missed previously.”

Additionally, other recent art exhibitions offer more to see when you visit the Visual Arts Center, including ceramic works using traditional Native methods, infrared photography and more.

The Visual Arts Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For additional information on each exhibition or to reserve your museum admission online, please visit WashingtonPavilion.org/Art.

Don’t miss two after-hours chances to view ‘Dear Diary’

• “Dear Diary” After Hours: Enjoy an evening of art, ice cream and nostalgia inside the 3,000-square-foot “Dear Diary” exhibition in the Everist Gallery of the Visual Arts Center from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. At this 21-and-older event, attendees will create their own masterpiece using ideas and supplies inspired by the past while enjoying gourmet ice cream by Parlour and listening to shared stories and diary entries from both artists and anonymous authors. Get tickets here. 
• Cosmos and Cocktails: The Washington Pavilion’s popular Cosmos and Cocktails event returns from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 14, offering adults 21 and older the opportunity to indulge in the museums — without the kiddos! The event will include deep space-themed activities, including a space walk VR headset, live presentations of a new planetarium show, unlimited access to the Kirby Science Discovery Center and Visual Arts Center, specialty cocktails, wine, beer, gourmet ice cream and other food options at Parlour. Get tickets here.