Sound like your cup of tea? Then plan to be in Custer for the first annual Fine Arts Festival, scheduled for June 14-15 at the intersection of 6th and Washington streets in Custer.
The event is the brainchild of Deeda Cordin, who owns and operates Deep Creek Gallery, located now at 757 Mount Rushmore Rd., formerly the home of Old Pine Social, or for the longer-tenured residents of Custer, the former home of Murner Chevrolet.
Cordin, who along with husband, Scott, moved to Custer from Chicago a few years ago, organized and ran an art show in the Chicagoland area for 18 years.
“ What I liked about it was there were no commercial exhibits,” Cordin said.“ It was all about the artists and the people who came to collect the art. So, I thought about trying to do that here, but there are a lot of art events.”
There aren’ t as many as there used to be, however, as on the weekend the event is planned there used to be the Gift From Mother Earth Art Show at Crazy Horse Memorial, as well as Fine Art in the Hills in Hill City. With those two events now defunct, Cordin saw a void that needed to be filled.
As Cordin tossed around the idea, Custer County Chronicle owner Jerry Lenander helped light the spark even more as he suggested having the event on the sprawling lawn in front of his home on Washington Street that stretches from Harbach Park to the east and the Custer Veterans Memorial to the west.
“ I was asking Jerry if he knew of a location, because I didn’ t want to have it in a school gym,” Cordin said, saying she envisioned an outdoor show.
Combine Lenander’ s suggestions with the fact that other art shows were folding, and the train really started to go down the tracks.
The two-day event will see each artist with their own booth. There will be around 30 artists, who will come from near and far, including two from Arizona who make Navajo jewelry. Artists who participated in the two now-defunct shows will participate, as will some new artists.
As is usually the case in Custer, when someone announces a new event, people are eager to help. To that end, Dacotah Bank has offered the use of its large event tent for artists to be under if they so choose. There will be some food as well, and Anita Walsh, an artist who makes leather handbags, will also play the harp for a few hours one of the days.
The event will be more than just an opportunity for the artists to show off and sell their wares; it will also be an opportunity for them to win some awards. The show will be juried, and three prizes will be given away. Best in show will receive a $ 750 cash prize, while second place will take home $ 500 and third place will receive $ 300.
Among the art the public can expect to see at the event are painters, jewelry makers, a basket maker, bird house maker and a silver smith. There will really be something for everyone of all ages and tastes.
As the date of the event approaches, Cordin said the event has gained momentum and she has become more and more excited for the day to come, particularly with all the quality artists who will be featured at the event.
“ Everybody seems to be enthused, because it’ s just art there,” she said.“ You don’ t have to set up next to somebody who is selling something other than art.”
Cordin said there is a need for the artists and collectors to attend an event that focuses solely on art, and not only that, hands-on art that was made by the artist who is doing the exhibiting.
8 Down Country Roads May / June 2025