“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”–Edgar Degas Artists Among Us vBy Chauntel Wright After a long buying trip in the heat of June traveling the winding roads of the Black Hills, Mom and I landed back in Rapid City with a trailer full of one-of-a-kind artwork created by local artists. We had the pleasure of meeting with numerous artists, learned about their journeys’ pursuing their craft, and purchased pieces to showcase and sell in our Yankton gallery. While it was an amazing day, we were tired, crabby, talked-out, and hungry and we were contemplating whether to “call it a day” and skip the last gallery on our list of places to stop. We decided to muster-up our energy and drove downtown to the Suzie Cappa Art Center. Approaching the entrance, we noticed the whimsical details, large windows displaying art, and signage which read “Artists of All Abilities”. We walked through the door and entered a space full of colorful, textural, unique pieces of art. The works spoke with honesty, perspective, joy, and innocence unique to the artists of this gallery. Our moods immediately lifted, and we spent the next few hours looking at a multitude of various works and admiring the center in its entirety. We left with numerous pieces now bound for the walls of our gallery back home. Most of the artists who create, exhibit, and sell their art at the Suzie Cappa Center are served by Black Hills Works which assists individuals from the Rapid City area who have disabilities, including cognitive and physical disabilities. The gallery is nothing short of an amazing outlet and support for both their established and budding artists! Months later in our gallery, I began noticing our customers with the same smiles and positive reactions we had when viewing the artwork from the Suzie Cappa Center for the first time. This got me thinking: does Yankton have a program such as this? If so, what can we do to support our local talent? My investigation began and I was ecstatic with what I found. Our community has two incredible art centers led by two amazing artists instructing students from Ability Building Services (ABS)! ABS provide services like Black Hills Works serving approximately 140 individuals. In addition, they own eight 6vHERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2019 Jessi Koch Sue Hill residential facilities around Yankton. In 2016, ABS expanded and developed a new art studio. Artist Jessi Koch helped create and name the Courage Art Studio in spring 2016 welcoming her first students that fall. Jessi currently works individually with 25-30 artists per week. The program is so highly popular there is a waiting list to take classes! The Yellow Bird Gallery is owned and operated by Artist Sue Hill. Her gallery located at the National Field Archery Association (NFAA) complex offers classes to young, old, and artists of all abilities. More than twenty-five ABS students attend small classes each week instructed by Sue. She has been working with artists from ABS over the past decade in several different locations until moving the gallery to the NFAA four years ago. When I met with Jessi and Sue in their respective studios, I admit I had a hard time focusing on the interviews. Intrigued by the works in progress and those pieces completed and displayed, my eyes could not help but wander. Vibrant colors, unique shapes and sizes, textures, sculptures, all created from varying mediums adorn every corner of their studios. If I could have rolled-up my sleeves,