A Native American art gallery in Rapid City shut down during the pandemic. But now two nonprofits are helping the gallery reopen at a new location.
Racing Magpie has brought the spirit of Lakota art to life for nearly seven years. It houses multiple studios and spaces for Native Americans to create art together. Peter Strong is the director and co-owner. He started the gallery with a clear mission.
“Just creating a place where Lakota people and Lakota community and Lakota artists felt centered and uplifted and seen for who they are and what they do.”
Due to Covid-19, the gallery shut down for the safety of Lakota artists. And Strong has seen the effects it had on the community.
“Devasting for all of us. I got calls pretty regularly and emails from community members and artists and people you know were really hopeful that we would be able to open back up and we just we couldn’t.”
But with things slowly returning to normal, it's time to reopen, and Racing Magpie needs help. Four Bands Community Fund and Lakota Funds are two non-profits that make loans to Native businesses. They’ve come together to loan Racing Magpie money to buy a new location.
And now the gallery can soon get back to showcasing art from the Native American community.
“Native people, Lakota people, creativity and art is already a part of every day life. I mean it’s seen in the way people interact with each other, there’s song and dance and ceremony, and adornments. There’s so much already happening in community and we kind of what we’re trying to do is bring that together into a space, add strength through community into that.”
The new Racing Magpie is being remodeled now. It’s scheduled to open by the end of June in southern Rapid City.