Connecting Artists Though the Connecting Artists group has been in existence for eighteen years, I have not heard of them until interviewing some of their members, and their talent makes me wish I had known about them sooner. In 1998, Jo VanderWoude organized the group and put an ad in the Press & Dakotan, calling for beginning to experienced visual artists. Fourteen people attended their first meeting in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room. Member Judy Mace explains the first gathering, saying “There were so many interesting people at that first meeting.” There was an array of artists from around the nearby area with interests that touched in pottery, painting, calligraphy, stained glass and porcelain. Admitting my inexperience with art, I asked what does “visual arts” include? They explained that visual arts include art venues such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, wood carving and jewelry making. Now with about twenty members, their group created a logo and their mission statement reads “we are an art organization dedicated to the support, connecting and encouragement of beginning through professional visual artists ages 18 and up.” The Connecting Artists group continues to meet once per month and if you would like to learn some art techniques or be around people interested in artwork, they welcome area artists to join the other adult men and women in their meetings. They have a press release in the paper prior to each meeting but have a standing meeting on the last Thursday of every month, unless it falls during a holiday. Meetings are held at 7:00 6vHERVOICEvMARCH/APRIL 2016 PM at the G.A.R. hall, also known as the Yankton Area Arts headquarters, located at 508 Douglas Ave in Yankton. There are annual dues for the members of the club. The meetings rotate between a program or activity and a “show and tell” to present something that you’re working on if you wish to participate. The “show and tell” segment gives you an opportunity to hear feedback from members of the group on By Cheryl Halsey for Sioux Falls your piece. I met up with Jazz & Blues Society Fundraiser four talented members of the Connecting Artists club to interview them about their passion. Cheryl Halsey Cheryl Halsey from Springfield, South Dakota, has worked for the South Dakota Arts Council as an artist in residence since 1988. She is dedicated to art, as she puts it, she “lives and breathes art.” Her Art by Cheryl Halsey artwork can be seen throughout various hospitals and clinics in Sioux Falls. Several years ago, Halsey helped the Children’s Care & School create an interactive lobby and has artwork displayed at the Children’s Pre-Operative and Post-Operative area at the