Click on the thumbnails below to view a larger version. Sculptors Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby formed the art studio, Bad River Artworks, after collaborating on several sculpture projects while attending Northern State University in the late `80's. Sherri and Lee primarily worked high relief sculptures of wildlife and gained a national following through the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited where their works were sold to promote wildlife conservation. Their works were also sold extensively to aid local charities and wildlife groups. Selected as one of four of the "City of Presidents" Foundation's artists in 1999, they have completed four of ten of our nation's presidents as life-size bronze statues. In 2001, they were selected from a large field of artists to create this nation's first state World War II monument in Pierre, SD. In fourteen months they finished 6 larger than life statues of soldiers, from all the branches of service, in time to be dedicated four days after the 9/11 attack. Recently, they added a life-size sculpture of a Korean War Soldier to the Capitol site. Currently they are sculpting a Vietnam soldier to be added to the State War Memorial in September of 2006. Sherri Treeby is a native of Ohio who moved to South Dakota in the early 1980's and attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in art education and a Master's Degree in art history, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1990. She accepted a teaching position at Aberdeen Central High School and currently teaches at the high school level. Sherri is also a professor of art at Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota - teaching art history, drawing, painting, and design. Her students have been recognized through the years as some of the best in the state, winning major art contests on an annual basis. Sherri is recognized by the arts community for her many contributions to local charities and through the tutoring of upcoming young professional individual sculptures. She has also donated many thousands of dollars of art supplies from her company to the art students of Aberdeen Central and Presentation College so that they might have a better chance to develop their abilities. Sherri was VFW Teacher of the Year for South Dakota. Lee Leuning, a South Dakota native, attended South Dakota State University and received a degree in Wildlife Biology in 1974. He worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service before becoming a Wildlife Officer in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. He was selected as the Wildlife Officer of the Year in 1982 and as Regional Officer of the Year six times. In 1986 and 1987 he worked as an undercover officer in the Smokey Mountains National Park region in 4 southern states, combating the poaching of Black Bears and the marketing of their gall bladders to far eastern nations. After the largest operation ever successfully conducted in the Southeastern United States, Leuning was recruited back to his home state to work as an undercover officer, investigating a large big game poaching ring in Western South Dakota. After his mission, he took assignment in Aberdeen, South Dakota as a Wildlife Officer. Lee attended evening art classes at Northern State University for 3 years and discovered a talent for sculpture. In 1990, Leuning transferred to Pierre, South Dakota as the Wildlife Officer in Hughes County. This Missouri River area has a huge wildlife resource and Leuning gained a reputation as a hard working and successful defender of South Dakota's wild resources. Leuning retired in 2002 to work full time as a bronze sculptor. South Dakota Capitol Grounds, Pierre, SD. (Six life-size bronze sculptures of soldiers from each branch of military service) Governor Bill Janklow's 1.1 million dollar memorial to the Veterans of World War II. This is the first monument to World War II Veterans by any state in the Union. The Artists worked with state engineers, architectural design professionals and over 1,000 volunteers in the actual dedication attended by more than 35,000 citizens. This bronze was created in memory of Commander John Waldren of Torpedo Squadron 8, Heroes of the Battle of the Midway, WWII. Commissioned by Governor Bill Janklow to commemorate this native son, the sculpture was installed at Fort Pierre, South Dakota, working with South Dakota State Engineers, The American Veterans of Foreign Wars, City of Fort Pierre, and local community leaders. This sculpture presents a very realistic bronze rendition of a US Soldier during the winter campaign on the Inchon Peninsula, Korea. The life-size bronze, commissioned by South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds, was installed in the spring of 2004 at the South Dakota War Memorial on the capitol grounds in Pierre, South Dakota. Development of the project was through the South Dakota Bureau of Administration and a select committee of Korean War Veterans. A life-size bronze sculpture of a US Soldier in Vietnam. It is an extremely representational depiction of a jungle fighter in full combat gear. It was commissioned by Governor Mike Rounds in conjunction with the South Dakota War Memorial. A selected group of Vietnam Veterans assisted in the conceptual development of the sculpture. Installation will be through the assistance of South Dakota Bureau of Administration and community volunteers. Final installation scheduled for September 2006. Life-sized bronze sculptures installed on the street corners of the Historical Downtown District of Rapid City, South Dakota. 2005 marks the 6th year of a 10-year project depicting all of the Presidents of the United States. The Artists are working in conjunction with the Foundation, the Rapid City Arts Council, and the Rapid City Council. The Artists have installed four of a total of ten presidents assigned to them. Three other artists are involved in the project. Sherri and Lee have sculpted exact replicas of George Washington, 2000; James Madison, 2001 (a second copy has been installed at James Madison University in Virginia); James Monroe, 2002; Dwight D. Eisenhower, 2003; John Tyler, 2004; James Polk, 2005; and Zachary Taylor, 2006. The design and critique of each of the presidents are in collaboration with the members of the foundation, and the other artists. One president a year will be installed by each artist until the 2.5 million dollar project is completed in 2010. This is a life-size rendition of USD's beloved "Doc Farber", initiated by SD Governor Bill Janklow and the Farber Foundation. Installed in front of the Law School's Old Main Building on the USD Campus in Vermillion, SD. This is a 5.5' rendition of "Duke", JMU's Bulldog Mascot. Working with JMU administration, faculty, and engineers, as well as Alumni benefactors, the sculpture was installed at the entrance to their new athletic field. The fighting eagle mascot of Aberdeen Central High School is in progress and will be mounted in flight above the new high school complex commons area. The project is commissioned by the Aberdeen High School Foundation, and is funded by alumni contributions. The sculpture is designed to instill pride in its students and community. The Artists are working with the Aberdeen School Board and Administration, as well as the architects involved in the project. The life-size sculpture of a fully uniformed patrol officer assisting a little girl is positioned at the entrance of the Sioux Falls Law Enforcement Center. It is designed to improve relations between the community and its law enforcement officers. The end result was brought together through collaboration between several law enforcement agencies, community leaders, the Sioux Falls Arts Council, and private donors. A life-size bronze high-relief of a game warden helping a small child to fish is placed in the Atrium of the South Dakota Outdoor Learning Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was designed to promote goodwill between game wardens and the public. It was installed through the cooperation of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota Engineers, the City of Sioux Falls, and local architects. Four sculptures featured street side on Phillips Avenue downtown Sioux Falls. Sculptures featured are "Hard Hat Joe", "Bacchus", "Nurse and Child" and "Fighting Eagle". Bacchus was purchased for permanent installation in downtown Sioux Falls. Two sculptures featured street side on Phillips Avenue downtown Sioux Falls. Sculptures featured are "After Knight's Meal", dragon sculpture and "The Shepherd" - People's Choice Award Winner, 2005. A cowboy in bronze, counting his receipts from a cattle sale and figuring out his bills as he leaves the bank was commissioned for the front of American State Bank, Pierre, South Dakota. Featured artists for the RMEF National Fundraising Package from 1991-2002. Featured artists for the DU state and national art fundraising packages from 1990-2004.