“Art has so much more power on people than we think,” said Mural On The Wall(Mural OTW) co-lead Ihaŋkṫoŋwaŋ painter Reyna Hernandez.
Mural making isn’t a solo process—it’s communal and resides in the very streets on the walls of the community, Hernandez adds.
Mural OTW, an organization that evolved from Vermillion Community Mural Project (VCMP), a subsidiary of the Vermillion Cultural Association (VCA), helps lead, facilitate, and curate the community-based process of creating murals, not just in Vermillion, but any community in need of public art.
“Diversity is such a huge thing in Vermillion with (University of South Dakota), and the townies really embrace diversity and diverse stories,” said Hernandez. “That’s what public art and mural making can do for a place, especially if you’re consulting with people who are living there, which is what our process does.”
“ART is innately a part of who we are.”
-Reyna Hernandez
Mural OTW and the VCA are organizations the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) aims to uplift, communications and tourism manager Miles Amende says.
“The VCDC’s mission is connecting businesses growing in the Vermilion area and being a leader in Vermilion in terms of development, and so when it comes to the arts in the community, the mission is sort of twofold,” said Amende.
The intersection between the arts, a thriving culture, and a community’s economic development cannot be ignored, and are an intrinsic part of improving quality of life, he added.
“Vermilion has been very open to the idea of community-based public mural making and has embraced that process,” said co-lead artist of Mural OTW Amber Hansen. “People have shown up to help imagine the murals, offering stories and ideas, and they’ve also shown up to help raise funds and paint.”
BARE WALLS IN YOUR TOWN?
Fear not! Contact muralotw@gmail.com to have Reyna Hernandez and Amber Hansen help lead the mural ’s communal creative process and bring your walls to life.
“This community has been really open and welcoming, and it’s one of our favorite places to paint,” continued Hansen.
The mural-making process allows for community members to connect with the artists, the art they create, and the stories originating from home.
“People see every moment of the process,” said Hernandez. “That’s really important for artists because people can then see and value our work in a way that’s more visible and speaks to what our experience is.”
The first VCMP 2017 mural titled Painting the Town, painted on the side of the Coyote Twin Theater in Vermillion’s Pocket Park, features the “Verm Cat” love story, The Vortex, and other movie posters serving as visual representations speaking to the stories and values of the area.
“the more public art there is, there’s more awareness of the importance of community stories that weave the fabric of Community together. we should be supporting artists, and we shouldn’t be suppressing creativity or expression, and that’s what’s happening right now.”-reyna hernandez
The two connecting murals wrapping the northeast corner of the Coyote Twin were created by Hernendez, Inkpa Mani, and Elizabeth Skye.Wanáȟča (Blossom) braids her hair as the river flows into Eúŋkičhetupi, a Lakota word meaning “we are restored” or “we come back to life,” completed in 2020.
The It Gets Better Project: Vermillion Pride mural, completed in 2023 with the help of the Vermillion High School Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), graces the western side of the Café Brulé with heavenly depictions of protection, love, and the intrinsic connection between the LGBTQ and indigenous community.
Spirit to Work Upon, on the west-facing side of Wynie Mae’s AVEDA Salon & Spa, depicts Zitkála-Šá, political activist, writer, and musician, alongside the natural landscape of South Dakota.
“People will step into the process inspired by the community-based aspect of it and go on to do other things, like working for city government, leading marches, or participating in other creative, civic ways.”-amber hansen
The VCDC’s office is above the USD Charlie’s Store. The western side of the building hosts the Missouri Weave mural, originally painted by Dick Termes in 1978, which has been a staple piece centering the life-giving river since.
Along with visiting the murals, the Sculpture Walk, hosted by the VCA, the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Oktoberfest, and Thursday’s on the Platz are artful events to attend, Amende says.
“Vermilion is a community of artists,” said Amende. “People who aren’t artists, importantly, describe themselves as interested in the arts or as arts advocates.” The Fools 48 annual film contest event adds to the artistic landscape of the area, one he himself participated in, Amende says.
“Anybody can have an impact on the place where they live, in whatever way they imagine themselves contributing,” said Hansen. “The murals impact the visual environment, but it’s also a reminder that you live here and your voice matters.”
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