Gallery Glimpse: Erin Castle
By Erin Castle
Gallery Manager, Designer & Framer
Rehfeld’s Art & Framing
Seated at my kitchen table, my feverish five-year-old plays his guitar so he “can rock” while my husband sits masked in the recliner. Both are recovering from fevers last night, and we are waiting on a delayed COVID test due to their lab being short on staff. Meanwhile, our two-year-old howls to the “music,” and I try my hardest to focus on the task at hand—a Gallery Glimpse.
This is not the first time we’ve been here; it’s been two years of strife for so many, and, yet, on the precipice of the holidays, I find myself reminiscing on how far we have come.
I joined Rehfeld’s in the summer of 2015 as a part-time staff member, and, eventually, joined full-time as a designer and framer. Throughout my time, Rehfeld’s has undergone ownership changes, faced a two-month shutdown due to COVID, a massive relocation for the business, renovation of the new (historic) gallery, a flood in the gallery (just weeks after reopening) and weeks of staggered staffing due to exposure or illness.
At this point, there is no “going back to normal.” There is only getting up and moving forward with the breadth of experience and understanding each opportunity we are granted offers us. We joke around the gallery that if we made it through the last two years, we can get through anything!
What has become clear to me through the eyes of the gallery is that we are all hungry to be moved. The artists that I have the pleasure to work with every day are honing their experience and blending it with their need to create and tell their story.
The artists in the community surrounding us are pushing their work further, and art spaces are opening their doors to welcome the ideas that have emerged in spite of, or because of, the unstoppable force of the times. The desire to create something that speaks to our perspective is overwhelming. Young and old, artists are budding and embracing what could be, and taking steps to see their dreams come to fruition.
In spite of every obstacle, I personally feel incredibly fortunate to be here, in this space, at this time of growth and change; Sioux Falls is ready. Rehfeld’s is feeling the pull to do more, to be more, and we are answering that call.
We have been chipping away at our extended gallery space since the move; in fact, the basement was once home to a studio space I shared (rent-free) with several other active artists about 12 years ago.
Sheila and Jeff Hazard opened the unoccupied basement to us then, and, one day very soon, we expect to fill it with artists and classes and expanded viewing space for the incredible works of art being made across the Midwest. The addition of wall space will give us greater opportunity to share what we love.
We are fostering relationships with leaders and makers in our community to connect and create. Plans are unfolding. We are inspired and driven. Sioux Falls is in bloom, winter be damned!
Rehfeld’s will continue to host art openings every First Friday of the month, representing regional and local artists. Keep in touch by visiting us Monday through Saturday to see what is next! Stay inspired, Sioux Falls!