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The South ��ֱ���� Art Museum at South ��ֱ���� State University invites the public to explore the striking interplay of light and shadow and presence and absence found in Spearfish artist Tim Peterson’s pastel and watercolor exhibition, on display at the museum through April 6. 

“Tim Peterson: Illuminated Noir” opened Jan. 11 at the museum. At a Saturday, April 5, reception, held from 5-6 p.m., the public is invited to discover nocturne pastel and sun-drenched watercolor paintings by Peterson while enjoying light refreshments. 

The next day, Peterson will demonstrate his approach and guide workshop participants through their own watercolor painting. The watercolor workshop (registration required) is set for 2-5 p.m. Sunday, April 6, and all supplies will be provided. 

Born in Minot, North ��ֱ����, Peterson earned a B.S. in studio art from Northern State University in Aberdeen. Since 1979, he has dedicated himself to a full-time career as a gallery and commercial artist. Now based in Spearfish, Peterson is recognized for his hand-painted commercial signs and evocative artworks. 

Peterson is inspired by the landscapes of Western South ��ֱ����, regular painting expeditions in Cody, Wyoming, and the unnoticed details of everyday life. As Peterson reflects, “We often remember the main events of our day but probably do not recall many of the lesser things that we experience. With a small amount of conscious observation, we can see the routine of our lives punctuated by little stories.”  

In “Illuminated Noir,” Peterson’s pastel nocturnes capture the quiet allure of bypasses, junkyards, alleys and glowing hotel signs — scenes glimpsed during evening strolls or drives. These moody, dense works stand in sharp contrast to his vibrant watercolor streetscapes, infused with light and saturated color. Together, the two series inspire reflection on fleeting moments and overlooked spaces, encouraging us to ask: What do we miss when we aren’t paying attention? What is fleeting, and what endures? 

“These images depict views you and I are exposed to daily. Rarely do we — can we — acknowledge their past or current significance, or even their very existence. All are connected by a thread of solitude allowing us to contemplate where we have been and what may lay ahead. Often, soon after a painting is completed, a particular scene has drastically changed or disappeared completely, a reminder of our temporal lives,” Peterson said. 

“This exhibition could rightfully be seen as two distinct bodies of work separated by the disparate mediums of watercolor and pastel, of light and dark. Watercolors rely on the illumination of thinly applied pigments over white paper while the heavier burden of noir is carried by the density of the pigment found in pastels,” he added. 

Registration for the April 6 workshop is required and available on the . 
Cost is $35 per person, and a membership discount applies. Call the museum at 605-688-5423 for a discount code. 

“Illuminated Noir” is open for viewing through April 6 during museum business hours (Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m.). Admission to the museum and exhibition is free for all. 

The South ��ֱ���� Art Museum is located at 1036 Medary Ave. in Brookings. Visitor parking is also free in the museum’s reserved lot just west of the museum on Harvey Dunn Street. For more information, visit the museum's website or call the museum at 605-688-5423.