Simplified: A new public art project will help connect the Summit League Tournament to kids playing pickup basketball in Sioux Falls neighborhood parks. Here's what you need to know about Full Court Color: Arena to Asphalt.

Why it matters

  • The idea stemmed from the Sioux Falls Arts Commission and a desire to bring public art into more community spaces. This project will give kids a space to sketch basketball-themed drawings that'll be compiled and shared on the backboards in parks across town.
  • Local artist Les Cotton is facilitating the project, which includes tabling at the Summit League Tournament as well as sharing design prompt sheets with art teachers across the city. The hope is to coordinate so the artwork in local parks comes from kids who live in the neighborhood.
  • For Cotton, it's all about finding ways to connect kids with art, give them space to be creative and show them that you can make a career as an artist.
"Iā€™m just excited to share creativity with kids and see what they come up with, and ultimately make these basketball courts a little more fun and lovely to look at," Cotton said.

Tell me more

City Arts Coordinator Maren Engel said the relatively new arts commission has been looking for ways to connect art to some of the big events in Sioux Falls, and the Summit League was a great opportunity to test something new.

"We're combining these two areas that people sometimes pit against each other ā€“ sports and art," Engel said. "There are a lot of people that support sports in this community, and this is a cool way to get in front of them with a really impactful art project."

In addition, having the artwork on neighborhood backboards in parks across the city will also give kids playing pick-up basketball games a chance to experience art in a unique way.

"Art should exist outside of galleries and performance halls," Engel said, noting that this project not only gives kids a chance to see their artwork displayed, but it also gives neighbors another reason to come enjoy local parks.

What happens next?

Summit League visitors and the public are invited to stop by the Convention Center concourse this weekend to check out the Full Court Color event.

  • Kids can come and sketch drawings, chat with Cotton, create their own little basketball-themed icon and maybe even see that art displayed in a local park.

Cotton will also work with schools in the coming weeks to get more designs, and the goal is to have the backboards installed by early summer, Engel said.