New art studio gallery emphasizes community

James and April Reed always talked about owning a gallery.

April grew up on a farm in Nisland and was outside all the time, which inspired her love of nature. In 2006, April graduated with a bachelor of fine arts from the Universtiy of South Dakota and moved back to the Hills. In fact, her family has lived in the Hills since 1901.

After that, April and James were married and they later decided to move to Hill City because they loved it. 

“I love the town, but I love it even more because of how progressive and open and warm everybody is,” said April.

April has been part of ArtForms Gallery and Art Expressions for a few years, which allowed her to connect with other artists in the community. 

“It’s just an awesome community. We all kind of feed off each other and help each other,” said April.  

Nevertheless, April wanted the opportunity and freedom to expand, make art and sell it in a personalized space. So when April and James saw a space for rent on the top floor of the Old World Plaza, they looked into it and decided to go for it. 

The space was originally going to be a studio to make art and do festivals. Then, April’s friend Jeanne Beroza asked if she could put her art in the space since it goes well with April’s art. 

Beroza does pine needle art as well as classic and artistic pine needle baskets. These creations are made with needles from the Long Leaf or Ponderosa Pine, sinew or linen thread and beads. They also include materials such as fur, bone, antler, stone, wood, grass, clay and gourds. Every piece is unique. 

April’s good friend Christie Sandvik effectively asked the same thing as Beroza. Sandvik paints using her hands and body to create textile art like sarongs, which can be worn as a scarf, shirt, skirt or dress. She also makes jewelry items such as earrings and necklaces. Some necklaces even have bison wool in the pendant. 

“She’s really cool,” said April. 

Meanwhile, April’s niece, Emma Olson, got a spinning wheel this fall and spins her own wool to be knitted into scarves, mittens and socks. The spinning process was described as “mesmerizing.” 

April herself paints either in a representational or abstract expressionist style and does photography. She explained that her paintings capture the soft emotions of the experience  and her photography captures the beauty of the subject. Many people have connected with her work as a result. 

With that, the space became Reed’s Art Studio Gallery. The gallery focuses on the Black Hills and the people and places therein. There is something for anyone with a love of nature and the spirit of the Hills. 

April and James will primarily be running the studio gallery. However, April said, “I kind of want the gallery to be a place where anybody can come up and create and just hang out. Because to me, art is about connection.” 

In alignment with this desired community atmosphere, anyone is welcome to come make art in the studio gallery alongside April; that way they can sit together, feed off each other, gain tips and tricks, connect and grow as a community through the shared experience. There will also be things for children so they too can come and create. 

“I just want a fun place for people to come,” said April. 

April also wants Reed’s Art Studio Gallery to be an all-inclusive place where people are nice to one another, make art and connect. She explained that you do not need to understand things like Autism or Down’s Syndrome to be inclusive, kind and treat people well. 

Although it can be difficult to start the initial interaction, the more it occurs, the more normal and seamless such interactions become. 

This is a particular passion of April’s since she has two non-verbal autistic children. 

Another dream April would like to pursue is doing a collaborative community art project where anyone could come make their mark, paint, write their name or leave a handprint. Then April would take pictures of everyone doing it and paint the people in the pictures. Thus the act of coming together to create and the image of the people doing it would be united. 

With the studio space, April is also able to create commissioned artwork in acrylics and oils and can craft a painting based on a photograph. She starts by discussing size and price and is always open to negotiation. 

Then in the fall, April will offer one on one classes in oil painting and drawing that will be personalized for each student’s needs. 

Reed’s Art Studio Gallery’s grand opening celebration is taking place May 12-14 on the top level of the Old World Plaza. There will be food all three days, and April will also unveil a commissioned painting to its owner.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce Saturday, May 13 at 11 a.m.

Official studio gallery hours will be coming soon. 

For more information go to facebook.com/april

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