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<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0\u201cWe started asking, what can we do to utilize it to support our mission but in a different way,\u201d \u00a0CEO Darrin Smith said.<\/p>\n
After more than a dozen conversations with artists, \u201ca theme quickly emerged,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was an artist residency program, and a very flexible one.\u201d<\/p>\n
The idea came together to offer the space as a working studio, for art shows, retail sales, classes or \u201chowever they want to use it,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAnd also to try and give a wide variety of artists the opportunity \u2014 not just the most well-established names but all levels. The rest has unfolded organically.\u201d<\/p>\n
Photographer Andrew Peschong was the first artist in residence for March and April.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did some receptions, sold pieces and did some classes on how to take professional-looking photos,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Next up are artists Marlee Hayes and Sara Mulder, who began their residency May 1.<\/p>\n
Mulder, who moved to Sioux Falls in 2007 from Iowa, recently transitioned to full-time painting after a 23-year career as an art teacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt became clear that my passion for growing the business, meeting the demand and sharing creativity through my own art was the path forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Her work features saturated color and blends realism with an expressionist approach, often focusing on Midwest landscapes, florals and still-life compositions.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m inspired by confident brushstroke and how it interacts with shape and space on the canvas,\u201d Mulder said. \u201cI\u2019m always seeking a balance between a finished look and loose, linear marks.\u201d<\/p>\n She was already familiar with Alcove, having previously exhibited work there, and said the transition to a residency felt natural.<\/p>\n \u201cThe space is made to display art and invite people to enjoy that work,\u201d she said. \u201cAlcove is a great addition to the Sioux Falls landscape, offering potential as a space for sharing the arts.\u201d<\/p>\n During the residency, Mulder plans to host exhibitions, open-studio time, painting classes for all ages and collaborative events with other local creatives.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be something for everyone,\u201d she said. \u201cSome events will require a purchased ticket while others will be open to the public.\u201d<\/p>\n For Mulder, the residency concept addresses a broader need in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cSioux Falls needs space for artists to create and display their work,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a winning situation whenever artists can work in an inspiring space, display their work and place themselves in a visible location.\u201d<\/p>\n Marlee Hayes, a Sioux Falls native, brings a different perspective shaped by work in film production and years of leading art residencies across South Dakota.<\/p>\n Her background includes studies at Columbia College Chicago and the University of South Dakota, along with professional experience in Chicago and Minneapolis. She also has served as an artist-in-residence at the Sanford Cancer Center since 2016.<\/p>\n \u201cI use art to foster connection and healing,\u201d Hayes said. \u201cThat experience continues to shape how I approach community engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n Her work is primarily abstract and process-driven, using acrylics and mixed media to explore contrast and movement.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m drawn to the balance of noise and calm \u2014 layers and movement that reflect the beauty and chaos of everyday life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Hayes said the opportunity to work in Alcove carries personal meaning.<\/p>\n \u201cI took art classes as a young child at the Washington Pavilion, where I was first introduced to abstract art,\u201d she said. \u201cPartnering in this way feels like a full-circle moment.\u201d<\/p>\n She plans to use the space as both a studio and a gathering place, offering open-studio hours, workshops and children\u2019s summer camps.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited for it to feel active and welcoming \u2014 a place where people can watch work unfold, step into the process and feel inspired to make something of their own,\u201d Hayes said.<\/p>\n Like Mulder, Hayes sees the residency as filling a gap in the local arts ecosystem.<\/p>\n \u201cResidencies create opportunities for artists to experiment, connect with new audiences and grow their practice,\u201d she said. \u201cLocally, this fills a real void by offering visibility, community engagement and a supportive environment.\u201d<\/p>\n The artists held their first workshop earlier this week \u2014 a floral painting event that will be repeated in the weeks ahead.<\/p>\n Registration for ticketed events can be found at MarleeHayes.com<\/a> and SaraMulderArt.com<\/a>. Additional updates also will be shared through the artists\u2019 social media channels.<\/p>\n The artists will work out of the space at 151 E. Fourth Place, Suite 180, for May and June. Here\u2019s an early look at their calendars:<\/p>\n Sioux Falls artist Brad Kringen has committed to the space for July and August and might share it with other local artists.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in talks with some well-established artists for those late summer and fall months,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThey\u2019re excited, we\u2019re excited and now we\u2019re trying to figure out who goes in for what period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n Terms vary for each artist. The Washington Pavilion continues to pay the rent and utilities for the space, with artists contributing as determined for each arrangement.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we are definitely supporting this residency program but doing it in a way where artists have skin in the game and it works for all parties,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n Artists interested in participating can contact Smith through the Washington Pavilion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"May 7, 2026 Washington Pavilion Management Inc. is taking a new approach with space it originally leased downtown…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":630608,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[272664,228,226,227,229,88,272665],"class_list":["post-630607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-alcove","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-washington-pavilion-management-inc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=630607"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630607\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/630608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=630607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=630607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n