“Women in Dunn’s works are not swooning ornaments; they are hard at work, contributing equally to the success of the homestead.” Donna Merkt
Although homesteading is depicted in his work, it’s not romanticized, Merkt adds. His paintings honor the complexity of life while focusing on hardship, community, longing, and resilience, illustrating what life felt like at the time. Merkt points out that as we gain understanding of the grounded truth of homesteading life, we acknowledge this narrative existed alongside the forced displacement of Oceti Sakowin people. “As South Dakota art continues to evolve, contemporary artists are increasingly engaging with both sides of our legacy—honoring ancestral memory while also reckoning with the broader social and political systems that shaped our complex history,” added Merkt. The SD Art Museum’s broader range of collections started with the Founding Gift from the GFWC. The origin of the museum is directly tied to the federation. “These visionary women looked within and beyond the state’s borders for inspiring art to share with South Dakotans,” added Merkt.
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