Eastward Bound

Sometimes to create something truly special, it takes a cooperative effort. And that’s at the heart of everything done at Eastbank Art Gallery & Studio, a downtown fixture for the past 16 years.

A gallery space that boasts 13 members and an additional 10 consignment members and plays host to a rotating monthly roster of guest artists from around the city and region, Eastbank was founded to use the co-op model to create a haven for artists of all mediums, skill levels and career trajectories.

Submitted Photo

“We aren’t here to make a profit,” said Cheryl Longseth, original gallery co-founder and accomplished artist in her own right. “We’re here to offer a space for artists at all levels to at least try it.”

What sprung from a drawing group of around 20 people and spearheaded by Augustana University (née College) professor of drawing and painting Carl Grupp, has since become a home away from home for many an artist in Sioux Falls, ensconced in the 8th and Railroad Center in the heart of downtown.

“A friend of mine who’s one of those people that likes to join things asked me if I was interested and I said, ‘Absolutely, let’s do it,’” said Longseth, an Augustana graduate herself who connected with the Grupp-led drawing group upon returning to town and modeling for classes on campus. “The people who started it were such amazing artists, it was just nice to be in their company.”

That variety of artists and styles is a hallmark of the gallery space of the operation, according to coordinator Jim Heroux.

“I think it’s unique that we have guest artists from all across the region that are coming in for a month and bringing their work with them,” he said. “They get their work promoted and advertised in the local media and in front of a new audience they haven’t been in front of before.”

The retired architect of 40 years has been with Eastbank for the past six years and takes on the responsibility of coordinated guest artists and scheduling member artists for their monthly showcases.

With developments like Railyard Flats taking shape nearby, Heroux and Longseth both expect the consistent foot traffic seen on Phillips Avenue start to move eastward to the space Eastbank calls home.

“It’s starting to develop—the east side,” Heroux said. “With the hotels on this side of the river, people are walking distance from fine art.”

“We just needed to hang on until they started to develop the railroad space,” Longseth said, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has halted in-person art classes and many regular activities in the gallery. “We’re running it close—artists make money here, but as far as operations, we’re just making it.”

Though Heroux cites a variety of styles throughout the space on a consistent basis, from watercolor and charcoal to pottery and wood turning and even encaustic wax pieces, some of the most popular work is traditionally scenic, South Dakota art, largely fueled by out-of-town visitors.

“That’s what’s interesting about walking in the gallery,” he said. “About every eight feet you find something totally different again.”

That consumer-friendly experience is something Eastbank is proud of—the ability to amaze with diverse mediums, but also to offer something relatably South Dakotan.

“People who come from the hotels, visiting, are looking for something from South Dakota,” Heroux said. “They don’t want a beach scene or a desert—they want something that’s relatable to the experience around here.”

And what guests can get when they walk into Eastbank is an accessible entry point to the region’s fine art, keeping prices low so that anyone can enjoy and be a part of the local scene.

“We get people from other parts of the country, and they’re just amazed at our prices,” Longseth said. “The quality of the art and the variety—that’s it.”

“We’ve had guest artists who have shown in larger markets like Chicago, California and New York, and they’ve come in and said, ‘You have remarkably good talent here, and the prices are way too low,’” added Heroux. “I think affordability is key.”

“An average of $200-300 for an original piece of artwork?” posited Longseth. “I mean, c’mon.”