Rapid City artist Bryan Christiansen grew up in a small log cabin in the Black Hills and learned to hunt. He’s still a hunter, but a different kind. He goes hunting through city alleyways and parking lots in search of discarded furniture. He skins and guts couches, easy chairs and tables and reassembles them into life-sized animal forms, such as deer, hare or buffalo skulls. And nothing goes to waste. He saves everything down to the last bit of sawdust and string, as well as the coins, pens and even TV remotes lost in the cushions.
The Ipso Gallery at Fresh Produce in downtown Sioux Falls features some of Christiansen’s meticulously crafted animal-shaped mounts and ornamental pelts in a new exhibit, Boonie. Christiansen joined Dakota Midday and discussed his work. You can view some samples here.