FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Sept. 3, 2010

CONTACT:  Dorinda Daniel, Heritage Fund Media Coordinator, (605) 773-6006, Dorinda.Daniel@state.sd.us

Watertown artist displaying work at State Capitol

PIERRE, S.D. -- The stately columns of the State Capitol will provide a backdrop for the vivid colors of Patricia Johnson’s paintings.

The Watertown artist will display her work from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at the Heritage Store at the Capitol. The gift shop is located on the first floor of the Capitol, near the First Lady Inaugural Gown Collection.

“Pat Johnson’s work is well-loved by the people of South Dakota,” said South Dakota Heritage Fund President Patricia Miller. “We are pleased to have her and her watercolors in one of South Dakota’s most-loved buildings.”

The Heritage Fund is the nonprofit fund-raising partner of the South Dakota State Historical Society and operates the Heritage Store at the Capitol.

Johnson specializes in spontaneous transparent watercolor technique. She allows the pigments to flow and bleed in a controlled manner, creating magical shapes and textures in her paintings.

Floral, landscape and abstract paintings by Johnson will be displayed in the Capitol. She often adds acrylic, pen and ink, and oriental paper collage techniques to her paintings to give them textures and vivid detail.

“Pat has been in Pierre on numerous occasions in the past conducting watercolor workshops,” Miller said. “She has inspired others to become artists. The September 8^th art show is an excellent opportunity to visit with the artist and see her at work.”

Johnson will demonstrate watercolor techniques during the art show, and her paintings will be available for sale.

For more information, contact the Heritage Fund at (605) 773-6006.

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The South Dakota Heritage Fund is a private charitable nonprofit that seeks funding to assist the South Dakota State Historical Society in programming and projects to preserve South Dakota’s history and heritage for future generations.

The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism and State Development and strives to help the state meet the goals of the 2010 Initiative by enhancing history as a tool for economic development and cultural tourism. The society is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.