Liturgical Artwork by Palmer Eide and Ogden Dalrymple

In 1949, Palmer Eide of the art department was asked by recent graduates of the Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota, to create a fresco suitable for the school's new library. Not wishing to work alone and needing help, he shared the commission with his close friend and colleague, Ogden Dalrymple. Taking their cue from the door panel Dalrymple was then carving for First Congregational Church in Sioux Falls, the two artists set out to transfer that bas-relief into painted form. The resulting 8-foot wide by 6-foot high fresco, titled "The Sower," (based on Mark 4:1-20), was installed at the academy library in the fall of 1949. 

For 40 years, the fresco hung on the library wall, literally forgotten, until Joel Eide '53, director of the art gallery at the Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, recalled that his uncle had created the piece. His desire was that it should be preserved if it still existed. Keystone Treatment Center in Canton, South Dakota, had taken over some of the buildings at the academy after it closed in 1971. Joel Eide communicated with the center's director to begin tracking down the fresco.

In the old library on the north wall was what appeared to be a raised wall hanging. Investigation with paint remover revealed the missing fresco. It had been painted over with a white paint and sand mixture and was supposedly used as a film screen.

With Keystone's permission, Joel and Diana Eide and college benefactors Howard and Eunice Hovland carefully worked to remove the fresco from the wall to which it was bolted. Aside from a few cracks, areas of layer separation and chipped edges, the fresco appeared to be in fairly good condition.

Under the direction of Dr. Arlen Viste, chair of the Natural Science Division at Augustana, the paint removal began. Robert J. Aldern agreed to supervise the restoration of the piece by a number of academy volunteers. The paint coating was dissolved and cleaned down to the original fresco surface. Since the true fresco was painted on wet plaster and the surface was now dry, Aldern restored selected areas with an over-painting of oil on the dry plaster to simulate the original fresco in stroke, color and medium.

Upon completion, "The Sower" by Palmer Eide and Ogden Dalrymple was permanently hung in the narthex of the Chapel of Reconciliation and dedicated on Dec. 5, 1999.

The baptismal font and dove in the Chapel of Reconciliation were designed and built by Palmer Eide in 1980. Made of red oak with corners inlaid in walnut, they complement the pulpit and altar that were also created by Eide. 

Eide also made a white iron processional cross for the Chapel.

The statue of the "Glorified and Risen Christ" by Palmer Eide is located in the narthex of the Chapel of Reconciliation. Made of laminated walnut and placed in 1980, it was given in memory of Esther Hokenstad Eide (1906-78).

Based on the Genesis creation story, the panels of "Creatures of Creation" are located on the east exterior face of the Mikkelsen Library. The limestone panels represent the fish and creatures of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the earth signified by a bison, and man and woman who are given trust of the earth.

Ogden Dalyrmple and Palmer Eide worked together to create "Creatures of Creation." Eide's initials can be found on the north side of each of the four panels of this work and Dalyrmple’s on the south side. Paraphrased from "God of Creation and Creativity," a sermon by Kay Christenson given on Oct.18, 2010.