“I drew on years of collected ‘sense memories’ to create a painting of one of my favorite prairie experiences: a prairie sky scape in evening light after a rainstorm has passed. The memory of these storms, the clouds, and the light involves all my senses. I can recall the smells and sounds along with the colors and shapes. On the high plains where I grew up, stormy weather could be seen coming in from the west a half day ahead. My landscape pieces are studies of the quiet, subtle beauty of my birthplace.”
- Mary Groth
- As Far As I Can See, 2016
- Oil pastel on sanded pastel paper
- Framed: 32 x 40 in (81.28 x 101.6 cm)
Mary Groth grew up living next door to her grandparents, listening to their stories shared around dinner tables, and her early imagination was sparked. Her love of the prairie landscape and the interconnection of people to the land and to each other became the narrative for the visual stories expressed in her art. Mary’s artistic goals are simple: to create meaningful evocative work, to be technically excellent, to remain curious and open to ideas and materials, and to not give up when the first three goals aren’t working. She was commissioned to create the official South Dakota Centennial print in 1989.
- Current Location: State Capitol Building - Conference Room 412 - 500 E Capitol Ave PIERRE, SD 57501 (google map)
- Collections: Art For State Buildings