Sarah A. Hanson-Pareek will present a photography exhibition in honor of John Banasiak’s retirement after 46 years of teaching, according to an April 28 announcement. The exhibition explores the spaces, objects, and creative life that shaped Banasiak’s influence as a professor in the Department of Art at the University of South Dakota.
The event is significant as it visually documents the legacy of a long-serving educator and artist. It offers both framed photographic works and an installation with projected imagery from an accompanying book, extending the project into a multi-sensory environment.
Hanson-Pareek’s work constructs “a visual portrait of Banasiak’s legacy through carefully observed photographs and an installation incorporating projected imagery from the accompanying book.” The exhibition also features “framed photographic works alongside a multi-sensory installation environment, extending the project into physical space and emphasizing the material and personal traces of a long academic career.” The show is accompanied by a book titled “The Magic of John Banasiak,” available through Blurb and MILK Books.
Visitors can view the exhibition at the John A. Day Gallery Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The University of South Dakota Department of Sustainability and Environment promotes cultural and social well-being by enabling students to address environmental and social challenges on campus, in Vermillion or along the Missouri River according to its official website. The department uses the Akeley-Lawrence Science Center as its main facility according to its official website.
It functions within USD’s College of Arts and Sciences according to its official website and inspires students, educators, and scholars “to consider ideal world conditions and strategies for enacting positive change” according to its official website. It stands as “the only university in the region offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees in sustainability” according to its official website, while also extending its influence through initiatives such as the Missouri River Institute along the Missouri National Recreational River according to its official website.
