The Buffalo represents the essence of South Dakota and the Black Hills. They are deeply integrated with not only our Native American “Family” but particularly our wildlife “Family”. Given that, “Family” is our inspiration and “Tiwahe” is the Lakota Sioux word for “Family”. One side of the Buffalo depicts a buffalo “Family”, cow, calf and bull. The other side depicts the “Family” of nature – a Mountain Goat on a cliff, a Bull Elk in a field, a Coyote howling, a Mountain Lion resting on a branch, and a pair of Eagles, one perched on a lone tree and its mate soaring above the Buffalo. All are part of the “Circle of Life” of the Black Hills.
Susan (Inman) Thelen grew up on a ranch near Hot Springs, South Dakota. She attended South Dakota State University from 1969-1972 majoring in Art. Sue was Miss South Dakota in 1971 and represented the state at the Miss America Pageant where her 6’ x 8’ oil painting of an eagle was part of her talent presentation. Sue and Tom (her husband of 38 years) live in Lincoln, NE where she is an artist at the Noyes Art Gallery. They have three children and six grandchildren. Sue has a love and appreciation for all things wild making the Black Hills and it’s wildlife a favorite subject of her artwork.
Doug Hawco grew up in Lincoln, NE, now making his home in Northeast Lincoln with his wonderful wife of 22 years Michelle and their two great sons, Lucas and Jacob. Doug has a long history of metal work in the construction and industrial trades. He combines his creativity with skills learned over the years to produce a wide array of original sculptures. He is driven to create both representational abstracts and life like pieces out of discarded metals and wood. Doug is also an artist at the Noyes Art Gallery in Lincoln, NE.
