South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

October 2025

1st Amendment Art Sioux Falls

Congrats to Cameron Stalheim!

l3wis 0Comments

I have often told people we have world class artists in Sioux Falls, and Cameron is one of them!

Cameron Stalheim was awarded the juried 3D category prize at ArtPrize 2025 for his sculpture Persist, which originally was shown on SculptureWalk in 2018.

ArtPrize is probably the best American sponsored yearly art festivals. I have dreamed of going for years! To win this award will be huge for Cameron’s career!

Like I said, many talented artists in our community like the ladies that did the censored mural in SF at the Smithsonian or Eyob Mergia who is known internationally and now resides in Vegas.

We have the cultural figures in SF but can we appreciate them?

1st Amendment Development Sioux Falls

Frank Lloyd Wright inspired? Not quite.

l3wis 1Comments

I have seen many exhibits of Wright’s furniture and visited his original home in Chicago a few years back and walked the neighborhood and looked at the exterior of the 16 homes he designed in that hood. After reading this article, I really struggled to see the influence of Wright. The main thing that stood out was the lack of woodwork. Wright had a knack of combining different types of wood to create an affect on a wall or floor. He was a master at it. I don’t see any of that in this home. Even the lines are lacking. Wright liked low ceilings unless in a specific room that required studio space. He even built a loft viewing gallery in his living room! The woodwork in his original home is very valuable and original and the staff is adamant about NOT touching any of the wood surfaces and staying on rug paths. My friend got his ass reamed after leaning against the dining room wall. I can see some architectural elements in the home that ‘pluck’ some Wright ideas, but I really don’t see the influence. I tell people my home is a museum of bad taste, and is influenced by Ed Roth, though Rat Fink may disagree.

Uncategorized

A Great Artist has left us

l3wis 1Comments

Dave Scarbrough passed away September 30. I haven’t seen Dave in several years, but back in the Pomp Room days he was a fixture in almost every band in Sioux Falls. Either helping to write songs, providing vocals or even music production. Dave recorded and produced the music for my movie The Color of Sound. I have the entire session on CD and I told Dave once it was one of the best live recordings I have ever heard locally. Dave was inducted in the SD R & R Hall of Fame last year. Dave was an extremely talented singer, songwriter, guitarist and always the one to help out. He will be missed by us old fart artists and Phil’s Pub junkies. The one thing I remember about Dave was how fun it was to BS him and tell him outrageous stories, he would always believe you. Miss you man! Rest in Peace!

1st Amendment Property Taxes Sioux Falls South Dakotans State Funding State Legislature TIFs

Finally, someone in the local media is digging around on TIFs

l3wis 4Comments

It took the property tax discussion to get this out in the open, TIFS ARE NOT GOOD, ESPECIALLY IF USED ONLY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT;

“That told me they were not providing the oversight on these TIFs, that they were just rubber stamping them,” Sibson said.

Well, Sibby, that is what communities across the state do. They are sold a shiny ball and they approve it.

“If they’re not done correctly, they end up being simply subsidies for certain private entities. That’s my overall concern,” Sibson said.

And that is ALL they are these days. Developer Welfare. Parking ramps and condos? How does this benefit the general public? I think if reverted back to Industrial and Affordable Housing which combined only make up 8% of TIFs across the country, you would see more value in them. I think that is what the State Legislature plans to do, or at least make an attempt at changing the law. Good Luck! Sioux Falls and Rapid City and all other larger communities in SD will fight you tooth and nail on this one.

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