The following description comes from the event organizer Stay in the loop about the best things to do in Seattle every week Use the calendar to select the date(s) you'd like to be reminded about or choose All Event Dates to be reminded every time this event happens Joshua Vermillion has a thoughtful way of saying “nonbiological intelligence” that underlines just how deeply mysterious AI is while also dialing back the rise-of-Skynet vibes that invariably attend this topic an associate professor at UNLV’s School of Architecture both in his own nationally recognized creative practice and in the classroom Thoughtfulness is required in both domains and the edited-out portions of this interview swell with references to the need to bring critical thinking to bear In honor of Desert Companion’s Photo Issue we asked Vermillion about his Instagram page where the curious can see his ongoing experiments in image-generation and his thoughts about AI imagery more broadly Let’s imagine a spectrum: At one end is “extreme AI skeptic”; at the other is “AI evangelist.” Where would you locate yourself on that spectrum?It really does seem like it’s one or the other and then the folks trying to raise billions of dollars to train the next model I think it’s a process of trying to understand what’s signal versus what’s noise and there’s a lot of almost propaganda on either end where I am both excited about experimenting with these tools — but at the same time you have to come at it with a critical point of view People can get an immediate look at some of your work on your daily Instagram feed where you post these speculative architectural spaces you generate with AI each one usually centerpieced by some showstopping design element What are you trying to do with that project?My take is you need to have an informed opinion about these tools trying to understand what they can and can’t do became a daily posting what kind of information do I pump into these AI models They can generate such exquisitely rendered effects textural and material effects — I’m trying to understand what kinds of things it can actually draw even though AI has no idea what light or materials or textures even are Do you think there’s a concern about people feeling they can’t trust imagery anymore?That was a big concern with the most recent election The importance of trying to understand what’s fake and what’s real … And I would argue that’s always been a concern technologies can always be used for good or bad That that holds up a mirror to us humans to ask ourselves but there is really room to help ourselves understand what’s innately human those qualities that are probably more important now than ever is to unequivocally dismiss a technology that is really going to be transformative in the long run We use cookies to improve your experience Please read our Privacy Policy or click Accept.× Please read our Privacy Policy or click Accept "Latent Architectures: Getting what you asked for Generative-AI—love it or hate it—requires us to think differently about certain parts of the creative process (control while reinforcing other aspects (iteration This journey of coming to creative terms with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can also allow us to better define our abstract notions of “intelligence" and “creativity.” For instance creativity will not be seen only as a human endeavor but rather one that takes advantage of hybrid capabilities combining generative-AI's latent space with human critical thinking This lecture will show a range of work with Generative-AI in speculating about this technology’s role within the design process as well as our shifting definitions of intelligence and expertise within our creative disciplines Joshua Vermillion is an associate professor and graduate coordinator in the School of Architecture at UNLV As a design technologist he uses AI to augment his creative activities Vermillion is a Ball State architecture grad who also taught classes in the department 2005-2013 and presented peer-reviewed creative research worldwide His creative and pedagogical interests include: artificial intelligence and machine learning; computational parametric and algorithmic design; digital fabrication tools and techniques; and robotics Joshua's students have won design awards and competitions his collaborative work has been featured in diverse media outlets including a variety of exhibitions Visit his website to learn more. https://vermillion.faculty.unlv.edu/ ECAP Lectures are free and open to the public Siouxland Libraries announced Vanished in Vermillion: The Real Story of South Dakota’s Most Infamous Cold Case by Lou Raguse as the 2025 One Book Siouxland title One Book Siouxland gathers Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County around a single title for discussion Vanished in Vermillion unravels a 50-year-old cold case in South Dakota The story chronicles the 1971 disappearances of Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller Author Lou Raguse extensively covered the case for KELOLAND News from 2005 to 2008 Raguse’s book flips the script on typical investigation stories revealing the intricate details of the mystery that has haunted South Dakota for half a century “We are excited to announce Vanished in Vermillion by Lou Raguse as the eighth selection for One Book Siouxland,” said Jodi Fick “This selection provides a unique opportunity for our community to engage with a compelling true crime story that happened in our state We are honored to feature Lou Raguse’s book and invite the entire community to join us in this important conversation.” The community can look forward to thoughtful conversations during activities and throughout the month of April at various branch locations One Book Siouxland events will delve into critical cold case issues including a focus on murdered and missing Indigenous women in South Dakota We will also explore the psychology of false memory and the influence of the Court of Public Opinion on criminal investigations and the justice system,” said Kim Koblank “We are collaborating with community members and subject matter experts to engage in comprehensive discussions on these important themes.” To check out the book or see the schedule of events and activities, go to siouxlandlib.org/one-book or visit a branch location View on Map Contact Us There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application He was often described as a big teddy bear who gave the best hugs and unwavering spirit will be remembered by all who knew him to Beverly (Bev Nissen) and Roland (Ron) Orr He was baptized and confirmed at Pleasant Valley Lutheran Church where he developed a strong foundation of faith that guided him throughout his life His spiritual journey was an important part of who he was providing him with strength and comfort during both joyful and challenging times Jim graduated from Wakonda (SD) High School in 1989 and earned his degree from Northern State University in Aberdeen Jim was named to the South Dakota Argus Leader Elite 45 Football Team in 1988 and was recruited to play football at Northern State University Jim had a passion for sports and was not only an avid athlete in high school but his love for sports continued throughout his life and he was a dedicated fan of the University of South Dakota Coyotes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers they built a life filled with love and cherished memories Jim's love for his family remained steadfast and unwavering After the tragic loss of his daughter Kelcy to fentanyl poisoning Jim became actively involved in Emily's Hope to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and to support other families affected by similar tragedies Jim's legacy of love and resilience will continue to inspire those who knew him Jim followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather continuing work on the family farm His dedication to farming was a testament to his hard work and commitment to his family's legacy Jim loved to fish and hunt and made sure that not only his daughter but he was always the first to say yes to letting kids hunt on the family farm His passion for the outdoors and his generous spirit created lasting memories for many young people fostering a love for nature and the traditions of hunting and fishing His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched with his kindness and enthusiasm for the great outdoors giving farmers a voice and serving on the Vermillion Township Board His dedication to advocating for the farming community showcased his commitment to making a positive impact locally Jim was also known for his great sense of humor and his ability to reign his wife in His ability to bring laughter and joy to those around him was one of his most endearing qualities and it will be fondly remembered by all who knew him Dustin Larsen (Liza Jackson) of Vermillion He leaves behind his nieces and nephews Colin Berry Jim also leaves behind special friends who were like family to him: Patrick and Tori Booth; Gary (his other "wife") Jepsen; and his bonus daughters Their bond with Jim was a testament to his ability to form deep and meaningful connections with those around him His warmth and generosity will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him Jim is also survived by a large extended family His strong family ties and the love he shared with his extended family members were a significant part of his life These relationships brought him joy and support and his memory will continue to be cherished by all who knew him Roland Orr; his two infant sisters Shelley and Debra Orr; his mother-in-law A celebration of Jim's life will be held on Saturday The family will be present to receive friends and loved ones starting at 10 am Please come in your Coyote or Husker RED as we celebrate Jim the family requests that donations be made to Emily's Hope (emilyshope.charity) and/or Kelcy's Kicks (gotanagers.com/tanagers) in Jim's memory and love will be deeply missed by all who knew him Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors « Back known as “Hambone” to his friends with more friends than anyone could ever wish for.  and more trips to Vegas than you could count Todd went to game seven of the World Series in Kansas City and attended an after party with a group that was likely in a different tax bracket than him “I’m in the oil business…I change it daily.”  and Todd is more than likely at the top of the list as far as games attended at the Dakota Dome His fall weekends were filled with football and winters with basketball The thing Todd wanted most was to work at the station so he could see his friends every day He was a great friend and will be missed by many.  Family was the most important thing in Todd’s life Todd loved his family and taught his children the work hard – play hard philosophy that he always lived by and wouldn’t miss a family gathering His summers were spent with the family boating on the river or swimming at the pool.  A luncheon at Bunyan’s will follow shortly after the service please send donations to the Trinity Lutheran Building Fund A Celebration of Life for Todd will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday in Vermillion to George and Dora (Lund) Iverson He attended Meckling Schools and received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mathematics from the University of South Dakota and a Doctorate from Oklahoma State University Gene was a lifelong educator and loved working with and mentoring his students He retired from the University of South Dakota as Professor Emeritus in 2001 He was a high school all-state basketball player lettered in football and wrestling at the University of South Dakota and enjoyed attending every kind of athletic event and any time he could spend with his family Gene was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers and three sisters three sons and their spouses Brian (Linda) Kip (Wendy) and eight grandchildren Emily (Taylor) Marsh March 27th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion A celebration of Gene’s life will be held at 2:00 PM Friday March 28th at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion Private internment at Evergreen Cemetery prior to service the family suggests donations be made to: Trinity Lutheran Church or The Main Street Center in Vermillion  Marvin William “Bill” Huber Jr. January 21 at the Sanford Vermillion hospital Bill enlisted in the United States Marine Corps spending much of the time stationed in Okinawa He returned to South Dakota and enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at USD in Vermillion He graduated with a degree in business administration in 1961 Shirley and their growing family to Wyoming where he began his 32-year career as the Director of Purchasing at USD but some of his favorite pastimes were fishing and puttering in his workshop building various woodworking projects Service to others was also important to Bill He volunteered his time and talents to construction projects on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and at Outlaw Ranch and he also served in a variety of roles at Trinity Lutheran Church.   Bill was preceded in death by his parents  Bill is survived by his wife Shirley his three children: Cindy Nelson (Vermillion) and his sisters Marilee Hauck (Menno) and Nancy Doering (Viborg) Bill’s memory also lives on in his 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren who each enjoyed their own unique and special relationships with him  Memorial services will be 11:00 AM Monday January 27 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion January 26 from 3:00-5:00 PM at the church.  please send donations to Lutherans Outdoors or to Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion 2025 after a hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1987 and went on to earn a degree in Laboratory Sciences from Mitchell Technical Institute Tanna worked at Sanford Hospital in Vermillion for 17 years before continuing her studies at the University of South Dakota where she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education Her passion for teaching the Sciences led her to a distinguished18 year career at Vermillion High School where she was honored as Teacher of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year Tanna dedicated her life to her family and her students; as a believer in God She was known for her kind and nurturing spirit; she always had an ear to listen and a hand to help Tanna's greatest joy was raising her daughters and spoiling her granddaughters - whom she adored more than anything She had a passion for genealogy and loved collecting her family's history Tanna enjoyed traveling and camping with her family and dogs She was also a long-time fan of musicals and plays and was always eager to attend a show with her loved ones Tanna will be deeply missed by all who knew her and unwavering love will forever be remembered Tanna’s legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched as a wife Elly Miiller and Audry (Connor) Martin; and granddaughters Josephine and Charlotte Martin Bradley (Christa) Peterson; loving in-laws Edwin & Ella Peterson and Martin & Emma Luebke; her father-in-law May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her and may she rest in peace knowing she made a lasting impact on everyone she met Please join us as we celebrate the life of Tanna Miiller Funeral services will take place on Monday followed by a reception in the school gymnasium (WISH) — Detectives with the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post are investigating a fatal Vermillion County police shooting that occurred Wednesday morning deputies with the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police troopers were dispatched to a residence in Dana on a report of a man pointing a firearm at another person Officers arrived to the scene and assumed defensive positions as a male suspect exited the residence while brandishing a firearm The Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from the Terre Haute Police Department’s Special Response Team the suspect was found outside of the residence The suspect then pointed his weapon directly at officers The Terre Haute Special Response Team immediately provided medical aid to the suspect The suspect was taken to a hospital in Clinton The suspect was identified as Michael Landers The officer involved in this incident has been placed on administrative leave which is standard procedure in police shootings Indiana State Police detectives are actively investigating the incident No further information was released at this time Brian Byrum is no stranger to the North Vermillion Community School Corporation.  The veteran educator has spent his entire career at North Vermillion beginning in the classroom and moving into the elementary principal role 15 years later serving as the assistant superintendent for six months as he transitioned to superintendent.  "Those six months were incredibly helpful Being able to work alongside a veteran superintendent in the corporation office and to be mentored only helped make the transition smoother I believe each role I have had up to this point in my career has helped prepare me for the next but the people I worked with alongside me in each position that have helped prepare me for each new role," Byrum told The Parke County Post.  Byrum sees both the good and bad of his district daily and he said there are plenty of positives and strengths within the North Vermillion Community School Corporation.  "We believe that we are a small school setting with big school opportunities All of them support and align with our academic programs," he said.  "Our mission is to grow and learn together as students and staff We strive for our most veteran staff member to our youngest preschooler to be a continual learner I think that is also the message I want to send to my staff and families We are always going to continue to grow and learn We do it together," Byrum said.  Byrum said there is plenty going on across his district to keep people busy as well as the popular field days during the last week of school "Beetlejuice," the weekend of April 25-27 the celebration of the class of 2025 with their graduation on May 24," Byrum said.  Click Here for your 5 day Forecast passed away with his family by his side on Thanksgiving Day at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls December 9 at the United Church of Christ in Vermillion from 5-7 PM with refreshments to follow There will be time for memories of Joe at this service Agnes Catholic Church in Vermillion on Tuesday December 10 beginning at 10 AM with a Rosary followed by greeting of the family and remarks by friends and family The Mass will begin at 11 AM with lunch to follow at the Main Street Inn in Vermillion.  IL to Joseph Ruey Edelen and Marilyn Jane Edelen on September 5 His father was in the Army Air Corps at the time They lived in many different places in the world Joe attended high school in South Carolina before his father’s last duty station in San Antonio where Joe graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1962 Mary’s College in Kentucky with the intention of becoming a priest Joe missed his family and traveled back to San Antonio where he enrolled at St Mary’s University and received a BA in History in 1967 He then pursued graduate studies in Library Science at Catholic University of America in Washington where he received an MA in Library Science in 1968 While working at the library reference desk at Trinity University in San Antonio introduced him to the director of the USD Library where he offered him a job on the spot to be a cataloger retiring in 2010 as head of Technical Services Joe and Mary were married at the First Congregational Church (now the United Church of Christ Congregational) on June 8 1968 with the approval of the SD Catholic Bishop It was the first wedding to take place in a Protestant Church with a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister presiding.  snowmobiling at Togwotee Mountain Lodge in western Wyoming and the Black Hills and spending time at the family cabin in the Black Hills They camped all over the country and traveled to Alaska they could be found at USD athletic events almost any day of the week.  His religion was unfailing and a part of his daily life Agnes and sang with the Sacred Heart choir in Yankton His faith was his comfort and his guide in everything he did He was the longest living member of the Vermillion Rotary Club He served as president of the SD Library Association As president and executive secretary of the Mountain Plains Library Association for many years he planned annual meetings in the Western US Joe had a head for numbers and helped behind the scenes at Louie’s Carpet Cleaning in Vermillion While he served his community in innumerable ways the most important legacy Joe will leave is devotion to family Joe taught his children that family is always the priority He never failed to “show up” for those he loved His kids and grandkids could always count on seeing his face in the crowd at their activities Joe took the time to teach his children and grandchildren how to be self-sufficient repair broken things and learn more about the world around them He brought several of his younger brothers to Vermillion in the summers to spend time with them and further their family connection while teaching them about farming and life Joe kept a close connection with his extended family Benjamin and Lila of Sioux Falls and Oscar and Stella of Vermillion He is also survived by seven brothers and one sister: Greg (Lauren) of TX; Nancy (Doug) Brown of TX; Rev Thomas Edelen of TX; John (Gianella) Edelen of AR; Philip (Clare) of HI/FL; Chris (Joan) of TX; Paul (Nancy) Edelen of TX; and Richard (Dr the Vermillion Public School Foundation for playground equipment upkeep the Vermillion Athletic Booster Club or the USD Chamber Singers for their travel fund Joe was a researcher at heart and believed in the power of knowledge He made the lasting gift of donating his body to the USD Sanford School of Medicine in Vermillion Vermillion has been named the No. 1 town in USA Today’s 10BEST small town arts scenes in the U.S. and Sioux Falls was named the sixth best city for street art Both South Dakota cities were selected by an expert panel and voted on by readers as among the best in their categories in the U.S Sioux Falls was chosen for its thriving public art scene dozens of murals throughout the downtown area and the SculptureWalk Vermillion was chosen for reasons such as its Vermillion Community Mural Project and the National Music Museum, as well as “abundant” art studios Downtown Vermillion is covered in murals, like “Wanáȟča,” the Lakota word for “flower that blooms,” and “Eúŋkičhetupi,” a Lakota word meaning “we are restored,” or “we come back to life.” The two murals pay tribute to the importance of women while telling the Sioux creation story, according to the Vermillion Cultural Association’s website This mural pair wraps around the side and back of the Coyote Twin Theater so they’re visible from City Hall They were created by Indigenous USD alumni Reyna Hernandez and Elizabeth Skye with help from USD associate art professor Amber Hansen from 2019-2021 The National Music Museum on the USD campus renovated and opened a new, modern 16,000 square foot Lillibridge Wing expansion in 2021 with a new performance hall and gallery The historic wing with 12,000 square feet of exhibit space reopened in 2023 on its 50th anniversary The NMM is famous for its world-renowned collection of musical instruments across 12 exhibition galleries in a historic Carnegie Library building. The collection includes priceless Italian violins, celebrity guitars, organs, harps and didgeridoos, as well as an archive of instrument-related materials, according to the NMM website at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00am She graduated from Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing on August22  Marcy married Robert Lund on April 11 Marcy was Clay County Community Health Nurse for 25 years in Vermillion When she retired from Community Health in July of 2001 she took the Parish Nurse preparation course at Augustana College in Sioux Falls Marcy was the first Parish Nurse at Trinity Lutheran Church and in Vermillion She started Health Ministry through Parish Nursing She was awarded the Community Health Service Award by the Dakota Hospital Foundation and later received the Joy of Nursing Award from the SD Nurses Association Marcy held special memories of the “special weekends” with each individual grandchild annual Family Vacations at Lewis and Clark Lake and their Family Winter Vacations for a weekend at a motel with their children and grandchildren She also enjoyed celebrating very special memory events such as birthdays weddings and holidays with family and friends.  Marcy is survived by her three daughters: Lori (Kirk) Guymon Others surviving include sister Diane (Gene) Ekhoff  She was preceded in death by her husband Robert the family requests that memorials be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church Roof Fund January 28 at the Sanford USD Medical Center due to complications related to COVID and related breathing problems.  graduating from Vermillion High School in 2016 She worked in a variety of jobs over the years in the fast-food service industry and most recently in the custodial department at the Dakota Dome at the University of South Dakota before moving to Sioux Falls.  Twila was very involved in varsity athletics Twila played center for three years on the Vermillion Tanager’s girls basketball team She also served as a goalie for the high school girls soccer team and threw the shot put and discus on the Tanager’s Girl’s Track and Field Team and AAU sanctioned basketball throughout the region She played saxophone in the high school concert band and participated in many related high school activities writing several influential book reviews on young adult and adolescent literature with Professor Lisa Hazlett at USD while in high school Twila enjoyed spending time with family and friends throughout the area she could often be found at the beach or local pool swimming and enjoying her time with friends She enjoyed sleep overs with her close friends and binging on different Netflix television shows Twila enjoyed traveling with her family and spent many summers visiting friends and relatives on the shore in Connecticut she was readily recognizable around the Vermillion area one of her favorite adventures was to go shopping in Sioux Falls for shoes and clothing that were fashionable and yet large enough to fit her and former teammates will recognize the difficulty level she experienced finding shoes and clothes that were fashionable that she could wear Twila was a very compassionate and empathic soul Her presence in the lives of all those she touched will be greatly missed she died too young and will be remembered by all She is survived by her parents William (i.e. Mikal Anne Boughton and Dave Henke of Vermillion Dawn Marie Boughton and Curt Buchberger of Seattle and her niece and nephew will miss her dearly She is preceded in death by Marcella Summers and Houston Lewis of Kennel along with many other relatives in the region A celebration of life service will be held at St any donations in remembrance of Twila can be made to the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House in Sioux Falls Anderson Stevenson Wilke & Retz Funeral Home Assisting the Montana communities of Helena Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints View map View map Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist No photos have been submitted yet. Click here to share yours. Read the thoughts and memories, then feel free to add your own. I too have lost almost all my family and friends “I’m so sorry to hear about Shirley “Wishing you peace and comfort” Tara and I are so very sorry about the loss of Shirley We are neighbors and have had a few interactions with Earl and Shirley Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 · Anderson Stevenson Wilke & Retz Funeral Home · Website by Luci's Office is entering his third season as assistant strength and conditioning/player performance coach after spending two seasons as a sports performance intern with Washington spent nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers as an equipment intern while in high school and college he was a scouting intern with the Miami Dolphins graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2019 he got a master's degree in athletic performance enhancement and injury prevention from California University of Pennsylvania Thanks for visiting DANA – Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post are currently investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred this morning The investigation is being conducted at the request of Vermillion County Sheriff Mike Holtcamp The incident unfolded after the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police were dispatched to a residence in Dana around 6:45 a.m following a report of a man allegedly pointing a firearm at another individual officers established defensive positions as a male subject exited the residence while brandishing a gun Sheriff Holtcamp subsequently requested the assistance of the Terre Haute Police Department’s Special Response Team Upon the arrival of the Special Response Team the male subject was located outside the residence and was visibly armed According to the preliminary investigation the subject then pointed his weapon directly at officers leading one officer to discharge their firearm The Terre Haute Special Response Trauma Team immediately administered medical aid at the scene The injured man was transported to a hospital in Clinton The deceased has been identified as Michael Landers In line with standard procedure for officer-involved shootings the officer who discharged their weapon has been placed on administrative leave The investigation into the incident is being led by Indiana State Police Detectives Ryan Winters and Don Curtis with assistance from Sergeant Michael Featherling including the Terre Haute Police Department Special Response Team the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department and the Vermillion County Prosecutor’s Office The Indiana State Police have stated that this is an active and ongoing investigation and no further information will be released at this time Upon the completion of their investigation detectives will submit a comprehensive report of the incident to the Vermillion County Prosecutor’s Office for review Serving Lawrence and surrounding counties since 1948 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInVERMILLION (KTIV) - Take a moment and think about the formal wear you have currently in your closet South Dakota want to give your old formal wear a new life and to those who may not be able to afford it “It’s called ‘All Done Up,’” said Sydney Jensen two friends Sydney Jensen and Erika Iverson set off on a project that has been years in the making a mission to ensure everyone can get dressed up “Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to go to prom and all their dances and their formals and stuff like that and there are some people who can’t afford it,” explained Jensen co-organizer of All Done Up in Vermillion holding one of the dresses that had been donated How it works is dresses and suits are donated to the shop who will let others borrow the inventory of formal wear shopping by appointment and then return after the weekend in case someone else wants to be wearing it the next week “Erika and I have always talked about how there’s a need in our community for just fun dresses for prom Why are they taking up so much space in our closets Why aren’t we letting other people wear our dresses that are just collecting dust?” Jensen said Offering a payment system of pay what you can making sure all men and women can have their shining moment of being ‘all done up’ with all monetary donations going right back into the mission “We’re not asking anyone to pay for anything but there are expenses that go into running this It’ll go into buying more dresses or suits in certain sizes that we might not have or don’t have enough of.” Other expenses include dry cleaning and any seamstress needs “We’ll steam it before they pick them so it’s ready to wear and then we’ll steam it and clean it once they are done,” explained Jensen there’s been over 200 dresses donated and there’s something for everybody “It’s kind of crazy just to see it come together How many people have dropped off their dresses is insane and we’re just grateful for everyone who has contributed to it,” added Iverson Iverson said she wants anyone coming into the storefront for it to feel like any other shop “You can bring a group of friends in here and we have a little couch with the mirror getting each other’s advice on which one you should And so we wanted it to feel kind of the same as we had,” said Iverson and are ready to start scheduling appointments A lot of shoes we can accept still,” said Jensen All Done Up is located at 10 East Cherry Street in Vermillion To schedule an appointment, reach out to the team on Facebook or Instagram @all.done.up.vermillion Anything that gets donated that does not fit in the formal category they give to the middle school clothes closet which is open to the community to take as needed Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app Vermillion has been named the No. 1 town in USA Today’s 10BEST small town arts scenes in the U.S The town of 11,695 as of the last Census was selected by an expert panel and voted on by readers as the best in the category Vermillion, the home of South Dakota’s flagship university, the University of South Dakota, was chosen for its “abundant” artists’ studios galleries and museums; the National Music Museum (NMM); streets lined with sculptures from the SculptureWalk; and massive murals from community members with the Vermillion Community Mural Project (VCMP) which has since transformed into “Mural on the Wall.” More: Sioux Falls, Vermillion recognized for art contributions in USA Today 10BEST lists Vermillion has hosted the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival each year annually since 2012. The town also began hosting the “Vortex Film Festival” in 2024 and is planning for a second annual event Sept 26-28 featuring films produced by regional Midwest filmmakers and filmed in South Dakota and neighboring states Vermillion Cultural Association (VCA) executive director Shannon Cole said each email and social media post she saw about the news of Vermillion’s win “felt like I was celebrating with my friends” and called it a “team trophy.” Cole noted Vermillion had one of the first arts councils in South Dakota which spawned a number of successful arts nonprofits and pointed to Vermillion’s “disproportionate” number of working artists who are the “undergirding for so much of what’s good about living here.” She added that Vermillion is “spoiled” with USD’s art programs and the NMM In addition to murals, sculptures from the SculptureWalk also line Vermillion’s streets. These works are leased and replaced with new works every two years in a collaboration between the VCA, USD SculptureWalk committee and SculptureWalk Sioux Falls, according to the VCA flagship university and museums contributed to the 10BEST honor The VCMP began in 2017 as a subsidiary of the VCA and was developed by USD associate art professor Amber Hansen, according to the VCA website. The first project was a mural of movie posters relating to local history on the side of the Coyote Gallery at the Coyote Twin Theater Since then, VCMP evolved into “Mural on the Wall” with Hansen and Reyna Hernandez who is Ihaŋktoŋwaŋ Nakota and a senior administrative assistant in the Department of English at USD because people are so excited,” Hansen said “People have supported these projects in a lot of different ways Vermillion is our favorite place to paint in.” Downtown Vermillion features seven big murals including two more historic ones — a 2005 mural at the Ratingen Platz at 5 South Market Street by Rick Johns that bears the resemblance of Vermillion’s bluffs; and “Missouri Weave” by Dick Termes and members of the Vermillion community that was completed in 1978 and has held up on the western wall of the USD Charlie’s Store at 2 E outdoor murals are the work of Mural on the Wall members: The Theater’s first mural includes images of movie posters inspired by local community ideas and conversations including a “Lady and the Tramp” style poster of two of what locals affectionately know as “Verm cats,” or stray cats that have made their home in Vermillion sharing a piece of pizza from beloved local eatery R-Pizza That mural also references Vermillion as a “vortex” where people always return to; the importance of the nearby Missouri River; the Lakota phrase “Mní Wičóni,” meaning “water is life;” and a nod to the city’s love of theater and musicals as Vermillion is spelled out in a fun musical font Another movie poster on the mural bears images of Oscar Howe, a famous Yanktonai Dakota artist and longtime USD art professor; Robert Penn, Sicangu Lakota/Omaha and a protege of Oscar Howe’s who became a USD art instructor and illustrator; and Arthur Amiotte an Oglala Lakota artist famous for his collage work who was inspired by Howe to utilize his Lakota background and culture in his artwork “Eúŋkičhetupi” takes inspiration from a photo assistant artist Inkpa Mani found while working in the archives at the W Over Museum of an Inuit woman breastfeeding her twins Hernandez said there was little information about who the woman was Mani and Skye liked that the woman was smiling as many old photos of Native people were taken through a “settler lens” and they’re very stoic “We all really loved that photo,” Hernandez said She was also able to honor her late cousin in “Eúŋkičhetupi” at the bottom left corner of the mural which also includes her mother’s star quilt pattern as a sort of halo over the mother’s head and a rising eagle In “Wanáȟča,” viewers can see a Native woman braiding her hair which then transforms into braided sweetgrass Both Hernandez and Hansen noted the prominent location of the two murals by Vermillion’s City Hall both makes people think about the region’s diverse history and faces a place of power that many people go to Hansen said some local marches and protests make a point of walking by or beginning at the murals so they've become a gathering place for the community “Spirit to Work Upon” was a commission by the Spa at Wynie Mae’s. It pays homage to Zitkala-Ša a member of the Yankton Dakota Sioux and famous writer as she’s surrounded by indigenous flora and fauna Hansen noted the painting also uses the shape of South Dakota’s boundaries in a new For “It Gets Better: Vermillion Pride,” VHS GSA students received $10,000 in grant funding from It Gets Better for a community project and they worked with Mural on the WAll for the piece at Cafe Brule where Hernandez and Hansen said the owners were happy to have the art displayed More: Vermillion schools now have a clear gender equity policy for transgender students It features a rainbow star quilt with hearts and buffalo patterns; two horses whose shadows show them as unicorns; hands reaching toward each other; a circular rainbow; and background and foreground patterns and colors reminiscent of the bisexual pride flag Hernandez said aspects of the mural remind her of the grand entry at a powwow Both “Wanáȟča” and “It Gets Better: Vermillion Pride” include land acknowledgements stating “we gratefully acknowledge the Oceti Sakowin Oyate on whose ancestral homelands we gather.” Mural OTW artists were passed up by Sioux Falls leadersMural on the Wall also created a piece that was considered for the large mural in downtown Sioux Falls on 10th Street “Buffalo Dreamer” by Hernandez, Hansen and Millette depicts an Indigenous person “positioned in the traditional style of European reclining nudes,” with a long braid down their back The figure is surrounded by star quilt patterns It was initially selected for the big wall by the city’s Visual Arts Commission on Dec. 20, 2022, but was rejected by Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken at a later Jan. 17, 2023, meeting. TenHaken also rejected a separate mural proposal by Eric Vozzola entitled “The Dance of Creativity” depicting traditional Lakota hoop dancing TenHaken said at the time that the space for the mural wasn’t the canvas for “edgy stuff,” and said it has to be “universally accepted” so that visitors from outside Sioux Falls look at it and say “'Oh More: Artists of Sioux Falls mural rejected by Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken speak out "Simply put," the artists’ letter stated "One person has the power to define the arts culture in a major part of Sioux Falls and to dictate the cultural value of art based on how 'instagramable' and 'non-controversial' he considers the art to be." NMM contribute to Vermillion’s 'extraordinary' arts sceneUSD College of Fine Arts Dean Bruce Kelley said the college hosts more than 200 events each year featuring students and programs who regularly receive national honors and recognition One of those events is the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute Howe held his own summer art institutes throughout his tenure at USD for students who wanted to learn more about Native art The current version of the Institute began in 1991 and runs annually each summer for high school students with a demonstrated interest in the visual arts and American Indian culture OHSAI applications are open now and due April 1 for the next Institute set for June 1-13 at USD which students can attend free of charge including coverage for meals University Art Galleries include the John A. Day Gallery in the Warren M. Lee Center for The Arts, the Oscar Howe Gallery in Old Main and Gallery 110. The W.H. Over Museum also displays a print of Howe’s painting “Origin of the Sioux.” which is one of the top three musical instrument museums in the world also “adds to the city’s cultural richness,” Kelley said “Vermillion truly is an extraordinary place to experience the arts,” he added The NMM renovated and opened a new, modern 16,000-square-foot Lillibridge Wing expansion in 2021 with a new performance hall and gallery The historic wing with 12,000-square-feet of exhibit space reopened in 2023 on its 50th anniversary More: University of South Dakota plans, completes major construction projects on campus. Take a look The NMM is famous for its world-renowned collection of musical instruments across 12 exhibition galleries in a historic Carnegie Library building The galleries take visitors on a journey through the way people have historically used music and instruments for communication “Those of us who live and work here already know what a special place it is but with this new title… we hope more people will be inspired to visit and experience Vermillion for themselves,” NMM Deputy Director Carol Robertson said This collection includes 14,000 instruments June Carter Cash and one of the last guitars Elvis played in concert; the oldest cello by cello maker Andrea Amati which Robertson said is the “Mona Lisa of the instrument world;” a handful of Stradivari violins; a workshop gallery; and a gamelan a percussion ensemble with multiple parts that fills one of the galleries at the museum NMM director Dwight Vaught said a visitor to the museum once told him “Your collection is not only one of the best in the world but is one of my favorite places.” Vaught noted the South Dakota Department of Tourism also has applauded NMM as one of the “hot tourism spots” in the state residents in Vermillion County will have a say in what services the Vermillion County Solid Waste Management District offers in the future.  Executive Director Eric Shideler told The Parke County Post the district's board is interested in expanding services for county residents particularly when it comes to year-round recycling and the addition of a Tox-Away Day every two years "Residents have expressed these needs in the past In an effort to make the best decisions for the community we are asking for input on how those new services should be funded how much people anticipate they would be willing to spend and what services are most important to them," Shideler said.  Shideler said once the information is collected the district will work with the Vermillion County Council to see how programs will be funded.  but we have to fund these services somehow and that is what we are trying to figure out from all Vermillion County residents and meet the needs of the majority," he said While this is the first time the district has surveyed the community Shideler said he is very pleased with the responses that have come in already.  "We still need more input from our residents which they can do online or can call into our office and we will take their responses over the phone They can also stop in our office at 100 W Market St Ste B in Newport (County Annex Building) and fill out the survey here as well," Shideler said.  The survey can be viewed by visiting https://forms.gle/Ce96bpEwQ4EGbX9iY6 and is open only to residents of Vermillion County.  a non-profit that runs the local community garden will give a demonstration about starting up their compost program and ways that you can compost as well They will also have a composting activity if you would like to bring one cup of vegetable scraps This event is part of Vermillion Earth Days a community-wide series of events April 21-27 around town and on campus You can see the full schedule of events on GreeningVermillion.org.