The Gift of South Dakota
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A New Flag for South Dakota
Jan 24, 2012
South Dakota needs a state flag, and this week more than 80 of the 105 lawmakers introduced a bill to adopt a design. (I should make a concession that may surprise some South Dakota Magazine readers — I work "nights" as a state legislator from Yankton, and I am one of the sponsors.)
You’re thinking we already have a flag, and in a sense we do. For years, our Great Seal has doubled as a flag symbol. We all like the seal — which shows a riverboat, a farmer and wheat fields — but a seal is not a flag.
The United States of America has a seal, but we also love the Stars and Stripes, and Old Glory unifies us as a people. Texans have a Great Seal, but they proudly fly the Lone Star.
South Dakota had a real flag more than 100 years ago. A sunburst on a bright sky blue background was created in 1909. But somewhere along the line, an efficient bureaucrat decided to fill the backside of the flag with the seal. Then another bureaucrat decided it was too cumbersome to print the seal on one side and the flag on the other, so he dropped the flag symbol.
Way back when South Dakota celebrated the state centennial in 1989, artist Dick Termes of Spearfish began to contemplate the need for a flag for South Dakota. He did some design work, but he also created the famous Termesphere and since then he has become firmly established as one of the greatest artists in South Dakota history.
Termespheres now hang in many of our state and country’s finest galleries and buildings, and Dick Termes has achieved international acclaim.
But Dick continues to live and paint from a small, humble studio outside Spearfish and he would like nothing more than to give South Dakota a flag that could help promote pride in our state. He wants nothing in return other than that.
I’m proud to work with other legislators to try to adopt his design as our flag. Some people ask why we don’t open it up to competition. If we did so, we would receive hundreds of designs and the 105 legislators would each have a favorite — many times their favorite would be the design by their brother or neighbor. But few of the other artists would have Dick Termes’ skill, and none of them will have spent 20 years thinking about what a great flag should be.
The proposed flag gives a nod to the 1909 flag, featuring an abstract sunburst on the same sky blue background. It also features a medicine wheel, a cultural symbol of our oldest residents. The medicine wheel represents the four directions of the Earth and the great outdoors that we all love.
This won’t be an easy sell, even though we have 80 co-sponsors. There are more opinions on flag designs than on merit pay and gas taxes.
We won’t spend a lot of time on it. I’m sure some citizens complained when the U.S. Congress adopted Old Glory, but I’m glad they took the time. The budget, education reforms and economic development are our priorities and they will come first.
But we will find time to try to make a good decision on the proposed flag. I like it. I’m sure that many people won’t. We all know the controversies that erupt when our favorite school changes mascots or our car companies come out with new designs. I still like the ’57 Chevy.
So this may take some getting used to. If you like it, I hope you’ll help by contacting your local legislator. If you don’t like it, take another look … and another. It might grow on you.
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Comments
What is the purpose behind the two shaded blue circles behind the sun and medicine wheel? It kind of makes the flag look like a target. It also reminded me of the Cubs logo after staring at it for a few moments.
I think it would be great to see a similar design with the traditional colors of the medicine wheel portrayed - red, yellow, white, and black.
Sandy -- I'm sure that people complained when the congress took time away from the fight for independence from England and other pressing business to consider and adopt the 13-star flag in 1777. We're not quite as busy on important matters as that first revolutionary congress (although I do have some important education bills), so I think we can multi task on this.
But I really, really like the old design. We don't always need change. When I see the SD flag flying today - I know it is the SD flag.
Maybe it has something to do with me being in my 50's. New is not necessarily better.
If it isn't broke - don't fix it!
Furthermore, you certainly CAN put the design up for public bid. They do it all the time in construction projects where your company needs to show proof of past achievements, your available work force, etc.. This is to weed out the problem of getting bids for $40 million construction projects from guys that work out of their garage, who obviously doesn't have the man power, credit, or experience to handle such projects.
A similar process can be developed for this task (if one isn't already in place). I can't imagine this is the first time the state needed something 'art' related.
And finally, this artist has some nice pieces out there, but his particular style is not inline for what is REQUIRED of such a task. If you want to change the flag, fine. But you have to have something that represents authority, timelessness, strength/courage, and unwavering dedication. This particular design looks like something for a 12th century European pagan cult.
I would also suggest that there are much better places we could take out our concerns of favoritism.
But regarding the complaints of one artist/design, people should keep in mind that states commission artwork, sculptures, etc. all the time from specific individuals. There is nothing underhanded about it.
Good luck in the process, and I hope I'm traveling your highways again this summer.
One hundred people would have 100 different designs. If this one fails, I look forward to seeing the next one. I guess that's why we don't have a flag after 123 years of statehood.
"The Flag of South Dakota shall consist of a field of blue, one and two-thirds as long as it is wide, in the center of which shall be a blazing sun in gold, two-fifths as wide in diameter as the width of the flag. Above this sun shall be arranged in the arc of the circle, in gold letters, the words 'South Dakota' and below this sun in the arc of the circle shall be arranged the words in gold letters, 'The Sunshine State', and on the reverse of the blazing sun shall be printed in dark blue the Great Seal of the State Of South Dakota. The edges of the flag shall be trimmed with a fringe of gold, to be in proportion to the width of the flag. The staff shall be surmounted by a spearhead to which shall be attached cord and tassels of suitable length and size."
Yes she was a bureaucrat but Bernie; this was an elected official’s decision as it was again in 1963. Maybe you should do some research in the LRC before you try changing something that should be in our constitution like the state seal is found their so lets leave the flag alone and focus on the more important issues of the day.
In 1963, Representative William Sahr of Hughes County introduced House Bill No. 503, proposing that the flag be modified to display the Great Seal on both sides. This measure would significantly reduce the cost of manufacture and presumably increase the flag's presence in the State. House Bill No. 503 was signed into law by Governor Archie M. Gubbrud on March 11, 1963.
I like the native flair, but it just seems the rest is boring compared to what we have now.
I agree with Darin's comment.
Max ... this would be a more personal flag than most. Many countries and flags just use a few stripes of colors. Our history of the sunshine and the medicine wheel offer a much more complex flag than almost anyone else has.
I know traditiion is hard to change. i like tradition too. But somebody has to start new traditions once in awhile. States have been changing their flags through the years, dropping the seal, etc.
And we are not dumping the seal. You can still display it on a flag if you wish.
I am a history buff, I like the idea of keeping with our history. I agree the seal is too busy, let's drop it. But let's have Mr. Termes re-design it more like it was originally thought up. I personally do not like the sun in this design, it reminds me more of a star, I do, however, like the medicine wheel idea, so let's incorporate the blue sky, a new sun, the medicine wheel in true colors and the wording in gold letters. I think Mr. Termes could do a great job on this, a blazing sun should look more like a sun than a star. Personally, Mr. Termes is fantastic, let him do up two or three designs and then let the people choose their favorite. People like to feel a part of such things as this.
Don't change it.
Keep the original flag!
Think you're right Bernie. More comments on this than I've seen on anything else.
From my hunting background I personally like the design because I can use the flag to sight in my rifle.
Good luck !!!
Bernie,
The state thanks you for work in politics as well as promoting our state in general.
In and around our nation's capital, we see hundreds of state flag displays that show all 50, plus the territories, the District of Columbia and doubtless some places I'm overlooking. I always look for the South Dakota flag because I know its color, about where it falls in the line of accession into the Union and mostly because it represents "home." But as an easily recognizable symbol, the South Dakota flag has a face that only the locals love. For comparison, look at a display of all state flags and see if your eye isn't quickly and favorably drawn to Ohio, Maryland or even "we're better than y'all" Texas.
That said, our long-standing (or waving) blue banner is pretty blah. So are the other states that use just their seal on a solid color field. Lawmakers who are brave enough to stick with this campaign to introduce a new (better) flag have my support. I'm just not certain that Dick Termes' design is a reflection of his best work, despite his unique and very impressive talents. What's wrong with asking South Dakota's many other talented artists (especially graphic artists) to join the effort?
Let's see what others have to offer. Run them up the flagpole and see which one earns the most salutes.
In my opinion, a flag should be simple and recognizable. I don't mind our current flag, but I do find it too complex. When I was young I didn't understand it and I couldn't for the life of me draw it.
I like the proposed design. I'd love to fly it. There's a beautiful simplicity to it that makes it inviting--it's not as formal. I personally can connect with it more than I can the seal--for me, the blue easily calls to mind the sky in this design. In the current design it's just a blue backdrop for the busy stuff going on in the middle.
Change can be a good thing due to contrary belief.
Dave Tunge, great point I'm with you
But there is no harm in reviewing the design of our state flag, but maybe we could have a few more entries to consider. And while you are on this review wagon, PLEASE do something about the design of our license plate when it comes up for renewal. South Dakota and Ohio are the only two plates in the Union that you have to be within five feet to be able to read the name of the state. Keep up the good work, Bernie, for Yankton and the State.
However, I have nothing against looking into changing the flag and applaud you (the author) for having an opinion
Thanks for your service as a legislator.
In the meantime I'm going to go out and buy a few extra of the current design, just in case this goes through...
Unfortunately, the design doesn't work for me for some reason, though the basic elements are generally OK. Maybe it just needs tweaking. It's a vast improvement over the current monstrosity, which is an embarrassment.
In the meantime, I'm working on a book about symbols of the 50 states (Geobop's State Symbols), which will include another South Dakota flag proposal. Let me know what you think of it when my books is published, hopefully by the end of October, 2017.
Anyone who wants to contact me can reach me @ https://www.kpowbooks.com/contact
Thanks again for your effort. Convincing people to part company with even the ugliest flag on the planet is amazingly hard. In fact, the flag that finished next to last in the NAVA survey still flies over neighboring Nebraska.
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