The commission to paint the Official Portrait of the Governor of South Dakota....an great honor!
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| The Unveiling of the Official Portrait of the Governor of South Dakota, Dennis Daugaard |
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| Governor of South Dakota, Dennis Daugaard, oil on linen 40 x 30 |
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The Official Portrait of the Governor of South Dakota hanging at the Capital
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| The Governor looking at his Official Portrait |
You
nailed it! This is perfect….You told me you would deliver the best
portrait in the collection and I’m certain you have.
Tony
Venhuizen Chief of Staff
Governor
Dennis Daugaard
Governor
of South Dakota
What an honor and a pleasure it has been for me to have the opportunity to create the Official portrait of the Governor of South Dakota, Dennis Daugaard!
I was so happy that the portrait was so well received. The Governor was such a distinguished subject, plus a very poignant and powerful composition with the inclusion of the South Dakota Seal.
It was delightful for me to visit this beautiful state and to have an extra day to see the historic Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Sitting Bull Memorial and atmospheric country side...along with many stately Buffalo!
My father was stationed at the Air force base in Rapid City during his years in training as a navigator during World War II....so visiting a place that was near to his heart was also special for me.
The Washington Times on December 4th carried the unveiling. To see the article click on this below link:
Here is some links to news coverage of the unveiling:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/4/the-latest-daugaard-proposes-spending-hikes-in-las/
Connecticut artist painted $20,000 Dennis Daugaard
portrait
Sioux Falls Argus Leader Published
2:54 p.m. CT Dec. 5, 2018
(Photo: James Nord, AP)
Gov. Dennis Daugaard smiled when he
saw the painting of himself for the first time, but he kept his
comments short. "I think it's good," Daugaard said before taking
a photo with his family and his new portrait hanging on the Capitol's
wall.
Daugaard's official portrait,
showing him standing in front of the Capitol's cornerstone, was unveiled by his
three children following his final address to the Legislature Tuesday.
The idea to have Daugaard stand in
front of the cornerstone in his portrait has been floating around for a few
years.
"It's a neat setting and it
hasn't been used before in a governor's portrait," said Tony
Venhuizen, Daugaard's chief of staff.
The cornerstone was chosen to
symbolize Daugaard's commitment to the structural integrity of South
Dakota's finances and facilities during his tenure, Venhuizen
Daugaard's portrait, which cost
about $20,000, was funded by private donations from the governor's cabinet
and staff, not taxpayers, Venhuizen said. A committee of Daugaard's friends,
family and staff chose Connecticut painter Susan Boone Durkee to complete the painting of Daugaard because
of her past work in oil portraiture.
The committee worked with the South Dakota Arts Council to get
the word out about the portrait and about a dozen artists submitted proposals
outlining their work experience, painting process and estimated cost and time
to complete the portrait. The selection of an artist is subjective and they had
several good artists apply, but Venhuizen said Susan Boone Durkee stood out and
they're happy with how her portrait of Daugaard turned out.
Susan Boone Durkee
traveled to South Dakota in the spring to scope out possible background
settings for the painting before completing the painting in her studio in West
Redding, Connecticut. Although his eight-year tenure is coming to an end,
Daugaard's portrait will now have a permanent place among the portraits of the
previous 31 South Dakota governors dating back to the state's first, Gov.
Arthur Mellette, who began his term in 1889.
In an age when digital photos are now readily available of
governors, hanging a new oil painting at the Capitol may seem like a
quaint tradition, but Venhuizen said the paintings can inspire Capitol visitors
to learn more about public figures who may not be easily remembered 100 years
later. One of the Capitol's functions is to serve as a reminder of the state's
history and its institutions, he added.
"It helps us remember the people who came before us,"
he said.
To see more artwork by Susan Boone Durkee visit:
www.susandurkee.com
