Granny's Garden
Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby, South Dakota
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 150 public,
life-sized sculptures, making them one of South Dakota's most prolific bronze sculptors. 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, the most congregation of people ever recorded for a state war memorial.
Recent major art purchase awards have come from Sanford Health with the commission of 5 life and a half size Sculptures for the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls along with a commission for 13 busts. They have also won the Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk "People's Choice Award, 2011 for Hey, Mary Lou!, 2005" for our "Shepherd" and 2006 for "The Library Boy" and the Sioux City Sculpt Sioux Land 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". “Granny’s Garden
was the 2nd place “People’s Choice” winner in 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. Sculpture Walk, Sioux Falls has franchised in the last few years, adding 8 new Venues for sculpture. In 2013, Bad River Artworks is the proud winner of People’s Choice Awards in Bimidji MN, Mason City, IA, and Mankato, MN Sculpture Walks. Their entry in 2014 Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk was the 1st place”People’s Choice Award” winner and will be permanently place in the Sioux Falls
Washington Arts Pavilion.
They are currently entering the fourth year of a 10 year project to produce 12 life-sized sculptures of past SD Governors for Pierre, SD, the state capitol. They are also commissioned to create a 9-foot “Fighting Viking” for Augustana College. Their works
have been selected each year to the nationally prestigious Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk since its inception 9 years ago. They also are being commission to sculpt 2 12’ tall figures for a major health corporation to be place in 2017.
Lee Leuning was born in Lake Hendricks, Minnesota and grew up in north Sioux Falls. He attended South Dakota State University in Brookings earning a wildlife biology degree. He worked 28 years as a wildlife officer for Tennessee and later South Dakota. During his wildlife career he developed his artistic talents through watercolor wildlife paintings. He attended 3 years at Northern State University studying bronze sculpture.
Lee has an innate ability to originate artworks that appeals to a broad public. Lee is known for his attention to correct anatomy and exacting humanistic detail in their representational works.
Sherri Treeby is a native of Ohio who moved to SD in the early 80’s and attended Northern State University. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in art education and a Master’s Degree in art history graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1990. She was a
professor of art at Presentation College in Aberdeen, teaching art history, drawing, painting, and design. The arts community recognizes her for her tutoring of upcoming young professional artists. In 2008 and 2010, Sherri was chosen the ”Woman Sculptor of the Year” by American Mothers, Inc., and the VFW Patriotic “Teacher of the year in 2005.
Since forming Bad River Artworks in 1989, Sherri and Lee have created over 220 individual sculptures, large and small. She brings to the team a strong background of art history and an ability to blend that knowledge into their artwork.
Together Lee and Sherri practice a continuing and demanding critique as they sculpt their artworks. This practice helps produce a well-defined, thoughtful and dynamic sculpture
that is without errors and says professional quality. As a team
During their 22 years as Bad River Artworks, they have worked efficiently with art committees and planners. It is always their goal to create an artwork that perfectly reflects the desires of their patron. Ego and personality are never an issue in their
sculpting process as they achieve this goal. During their 11 years with the City of Presidents project, each sculpture was reviewed and critiqued 4 times by a group of 10 board members and artists. This demanding development regimen made them expert in the skills asked for your eligibility criteria.
All of their sculptures are cast by the most accomplished artisans in the Midwest and are warranted against defects for 20 years.
View their web site at www.badriverart.com
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