CHAMBERLAIN, SD — The South Dakota Hall of Fame announced the culmination of a series of talks between the Hall of Fame and sculpture artist Dale Lamphere, officially transferring ownership of Lamphere’s iconic Dignity of Earth and Sky during a ceremony held at the Hall of Fame this afternoon.
“This particular gift is among the largest and most meaningful received in the halls in 2 years of existence. So we’re just so truly so grateful,” said Hall of Fame CEO Laurie Becvar, who joined Board Chair Kitty Kinsman in thanking Lamphere and his wife Jane Murphy for the opportunity to steward the nearly decade-old monument.
“It creates an immediate and lasting impression with her open arms, welcoming all of us to this sacred place we call home.” said Kinsman on Dignity “She is a celebration not of a single individual, but indigenous peoples throughout the great plains. Just as her creation was inspired and accomplished by a collaboration with individuals, she truly is a symbol of hope and inspiration and her story deserves to be told and preserved and shared in the same collaborative spirit in which she was developed.” Both Hall of Fame representatives made a commitment to protect the piece, as well as preserving the story of its construction.
Lamphere, who has worked in sculpture in various mediums for over 58 years, shared this hope with the Hall of Fame, specifically in regards to its ability to adequately protect the copyright of the statue, which the artist stated has been a frequent issue for nearly seven years.
Proceeds from expanded marketing efforts will, according to Lamphere, be split between the Hall of Fame’s Native cultural events and what Lamphere termed his “Final Creation”, a nonprofit Studio for the Arts, built out of Lamphere’s current studio space. “We have taken my studio, five acres, all the tools, equipment, materials, infrastructure and capacity, and formed a nonprofit that will allow the studio to remain a place with inspiration, creativity and capacity-building for artists now and in the future.” Said Lamphere, who remarked that work on this project was well under way, concluding “South Dakota has been a place of opportunity and success for me. The transfer of the Dignity copyright to the Hall of Fame in combination with the Lamphere Studio for The Arts will make it happen for the next generations”.
