SDSU Marketing and Communications
BROOKINGS — The South Dakota Museum of Art at South Dakota State University will open its newest exhibit, “Thermospheres: Without Beginning or End,” with a free public reception and artist talk from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, the 23 March.
Artist Dick Termes will speak at 6:00 p.m., discussing the spherical paintings in this exhibit, known as Termesspheres, and his process for creating them.
Thermospheres: Without Beginning or End, open from March 16 to July 14, invites visitors to enter a world of fascinating optical illusions with 28 original thermospheres. These globes provide a mind-blowing inside-out view of entire 3D environments. Inspired by the likes of MC Escher and Buckminster Fuller, Termes has carved his own niche by blending mathematics, science and art into his creations. It introduces viewers to its innovative six-point perspective, which enables a seamless presentation of a borderless visual world.
Enhancing the exhibit is a virtual reality experience that takes visitors “inside” selected thermospheres, allowing them to explore these 3D landscapes just as the artist does.
“I am thrilled that visitors to the South Dakota Museum of Art will engage with Termespheres in a space that truly lends itself to up-close viewing,” Termes said. “Each thermosphere is a revolving 3D space/time exploration of a fully enclosed universe, meaning that what you see spinning in front of you is a complete environment. Through the virtual reality experience, you can even see it from inside the Thermosphere, which is really cool.”
Termes’ works have received international recognition and have been exhibited around the world. He is respected in his home state as a long-time recipient of the South Dakota Arts Council’s Tourist Arts Scholarship and a member of the South Dakota Hall of Fame. He holds a BA in Education from Black Hills State University, an MA from the University of Wyoming, and an MA from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
Termes currently resides in Spearfish, where his Thermosphere Gallery attracts art enthusiasts from around the world.
“People of all ages are mesmerized by the creations of Dick Termes,” said South Dakota Museum of Art Director Donna Merkt.
“There is so much to discover in each Termesphere, sparking wonderful discussions and connections as people interact with the artwork and each other. This exhibition is sure to inspire people of all ages to think and create.”
Museum visitors are welcome to explore on their own and enjoy free engagement areas throughout the museum. Free group tours and school field trips are also available by calling the museum. Termes will return to the museum in July for additional programs to be announced.
Since 1970, the South Dakota Museum of Art at South Dakota State University at Brookings has been a destination for people from around the world to enjoy South Dakota’s artistic heritage in all its diversity. With a vision to serve the state’s diverse peoples and communities and its visitors as South Dakota’s premier visual arts resource, its mission is to inspire creativity, connect people, and enrich lives through art.
SDSU provides significant operating support for the South Dakota Museum of Art. Additional support is provided by the South Dakota Arts Council (with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts) and museum members and donors.
The South Dakota Museum of Art is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
The museum is located at 1036 Medary Ave. in Brookings and is open daily except public holidays and Sundays from January to March. Entrance to the museum is free.
Parking is also free in the museum’s reserved parking lot just west of the museum on Harvey Dunn Street. For more information, call 605-688-5423, email the museum at sdsu.sdam@sdstate.edu or visit www.SouthDakotaArtMuseum.com