When "Endless Imagination: The South Dakota Governor's Third Biennial Art Exhibition" opens Friday, visitors will see a showcase of diversity and creativity from across the state.

"It was put together to celebrate the art and artists in South Dakota," said Mary Maxon, curator at the Dahl Arts Center. "We get everyone from Sunday painters to the professionals. It helps us know what's being produced in the state."

The show features only South Dakota artists. Maxon said all kinds of pieces were submitted - from a Lakota top hat to watercolors, prints, sculpture and quilts.

"We saw a lot of diversity; it's a wonderful mix of stuff," said Maxon.

The traveling juried art show will make its South Dakota debut Friday, Feb. 22, at The Journey Museum, with a public reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibit will remain on display in Rapid City through April 12.

Maxon, along with John Day, director of University Galleries at the University of South Dakota, and John Rychtarik, curator at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, selected the 54 pieces for the exhibition from more than 420 slides and digital images submitted by the artists. The jurors were provided with information including the title and size of the artwork, but not the artist's name or any other information about the artist.

The Jurors' Choice Award went to Martin John Garhart of Lead for his oil painting titled "Of What the Calling."

"It really shows attention to every detail. If you see that painting in person, there's a lot going on," said Maxon. "The technical skill and the imagery made it stand above."

Works by Vi Colombe of Mission, Nick Fisher of Aberdeen, Scott Parsons of Sioux Falls, Tim Steele of Brookings, Lynn Thorpe of Belle Fourche and Joshua Watts of Vermillion received honorable mention.

"There's so much that's commendable about so many of the pieces," Maxon said.

The show is a partnership between the South Dakota Governor's Office, the South Dakota Arts Council, private businesses and five cultural organizations that will exhibit the show.

After April 12, the exhibit will travel throughout South Dakota, with exhibitions planned at Dakotah Prairie Museum in Aberdeen, the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, the University of South Dakota Galleries in Vermillion and the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

Artists featured in "Endless Imagination" include Roxanne Ahlers of Box Elder, Steve Babbitt of Rapid City, John Banasiak of Vermillion, Betty L. Beer of Brookings, Fatih Benzer of Brookings, Grete Bodogaard of Volin, Renee M. Boutwell of Vermillion, Darcy L. Bruce of Vermillion, Vi Colombe of Mission, Joy Crane of Sioux Falls, Denise DuBroy of Rapid City, Tom Eastburn of Hot Springs, Michelle Eischen of Sioux Falls, Anita Erickson of Vermillion, Nicole Fischer of Aberdeen, Nick Fischer of Aberdeen, Jeff Freeman of Vermillion, Martin John Garhart of Lead, Jeff Gulbransen of Keystone, Bonnie Hartpence and Gloria Aspinall of Custer, Susan Heggestad of Vermillion, Bryan Holland of Burke, Phillip Micheal Hook of Vermillion, Janet Horton McGlaughlin of Vermillion, Jodi Jensen of Mission, Ron Johns of Elk Point, Mario Kiran of Vermillion, Jean Laughton of Interior, Joe Lowe of Rapid City, William Mendoza of Pine Ridge, Christopher Meyer of Vermillion, Larry D. Negaard of Watertown, Joseph T. Night of Burbank, Julie Niskanen of Vermillion, Scott Parsons of Sioux Falls, Jean Peter-Larsen of Beresford, John Henry Peters of Sioux Falls, Paul Peterson of Sturgis, John Timothy Pizzuto of Burbank, Bruce Preheim of Vermillion, Martin E. Red Bear of Rapid City, Patricia S. Roberts-Pizzuto of Burbank, Randall Royer of Spearfish, Paul Schiller of Sioux Falls, Jean Selvy-Wyss of Rapid City, Lisa Shoemaker of Colman, Eli Show of Vermillion, Tim Steele of Brookings, Mark Stemwedel of Vermillion, Lynn Thorpe of Belle Fourche, Ray Tysdal of Rapid City, Joshua Watts of Vermillion, Cassandra Witte of Brookings and Anna Youngers of Sioux Falls.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Maxon at 394-4101.