The Maestro
Leuning/Treeby, Bronze
The Maestro depicts a time pre-internet when kids would use their imaginations in their play, where there were no limits or boundaries. He is a little boy dressed up in an adult bow tie and tux, still in his tennis shoes and t-shirt, and using a stick as a baton. He stands on a milk stool, most likely he is on a farm, and conducts his imaginary orchestra. His orchestra consists of working, melodic chimes, and xylophone, and he invites viewers to join in and make music!
Located at the Sheldon Theater, 443 West Third Street
Gift to the City from the Albrecht Poss Family Foundation, 2021
About the Artists:
Sculptors Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby formed the art studio Bad River Artworks after cooperating on several sculpture projects while attending Northern State University in the late 80’s. Their "continuous critique" approach to sculpture delivers high realism to their "Americana" sculptures. Besides their national market, they have placed over 70 public, life-sized sculptures making them one of South Dakota's most prolific bronze sculptors.
Recent major art purchase awards have come from the Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk "People's Choice Award, 2005" for our "Shepherd" and 2006 for "The Library Boy" and the Sioux City Sculpt Siouxland Children's Choice Award-2005" for "Golden"' and People's and Children’s Choice Awards for 2006 for "Knight's Meal Cigar" and in 2007 for the South Dakota Children’s Home Society for Rapid City and Sioux Falls for the "Tuckered Out Guardian Angel". Grannies Garden” was the 2nd place “Peoples Choice Award winner for 2008. Their 2009 entry, Summers Distraction II” won 1st in People’s Choice. People’s Choice Award, Bemidji Sculpture Walk in 2009 and 2010. We mention these “People’s Choice Awards” to show to you that we know how to create art that everyone can understand and enjoy.
They are most recognized for the nine sculptures placed in the South Dakota War Memorial at the Capitol in Pierre. Over a hundred thousand people combined have attended their dedications. Most recently they were selected to complete a 22’ bronze of White Buffalo Calf Woman for the State and also are finalists for a major war memorial in Orange, California. They are currently entering a 5 to 10-year project to produce 12 life-sized sculptures of past SD Governors. They are also commissioned to create a 9-foot “Fighting Viking” for Augustana college. Their works have been selected for the prestigious Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk since its inception 8 years ago.