Dignity: Of Earth & Sky, Chamberlain, South Dakota

I have a friend in North Carolina to thank for telling me about the Dignity statue. Kay Stolba sent a message saying she thought this would be a great sight to see & she was right.

She casts a peaceful gaze across the waters of the Missouri River. During the day, the South Dakota wind brushes the diamonds in her star quilt, causing blue shades to twinkle in the sunlight. At night, she stands illuminated and strong. She is Dignity.

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The Dignity sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history. Located on a bluff between exits 263 and 265 on Interstate 90 near Chamberlain, the stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. That’s why he used three Native American models ages 14, 29 and 55 to perfect the face of Dignity.

“Dignity represents the courage, perseverance and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota,” Lamphere said. “My hope is that the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future.”

Representing the rich Native American culture of South Dakota, the 50-foot Native American woman gracefully wears a dress patterned after a two-hide dress of the 1850s. She holds outstretched a quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind. During the day, her star quilt – a representation of respect, honor and admiration in Native American culture – glitters in the sun with color-changing pieces that move with the wind. At night, LED lights cause the diamond shapes to glow in the night sky, casting a peaceful presence easily visible from the Interstate.

“As is evident through history, humans will ultimately disillusion and betray. As is such, I have a new role model who is solid and sturdy. She literally owns a spine of steel and reminds me of the injustice in the world, but also of strength, perseverance and survival. She signifies people who have prevailed through the centuries. She represents all who resist and strive forward. She portrays a rallying cry for those who wish to be heard and valued. She stands strong and proud, meeting the morning sun and bracing against the nighttime cold. She contemplates the world through a poise of conviction and fearlessness. Her name is “Dignity.”

– Susan Claussenbunger

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I want to share some other pictures from this stop. You can’t help but notice the teepees at the rest areas in South Dakota on Interstate 90.

So, I did a little research:

Unofficially, the rest stops opened 50 years ago on Interstate 90 were known as “Whitwam’s wigwams.” On a certificate designating their admittance to the National Register of Historic Places, their title is more formal: “Ward Whitwam’s concrete instate tipis.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/23/south-dakota-concrete-rest-stop-teepees-get-nation/

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South Dakota has some beautiful sights and I am just getting started!