A Harmony of Cooperation
Story: Amy Crawford
Photos: Liz Kucera, Courtesy of Don Dynneson
Emeritus professor of art Don Dynneson looks for ways to make connections in his art, his teaching and his life.
A talented artist, military veteran, beloved retired art professor, hobby beekeeper, proud father and loving husband, Donald L. Dynneson has a lot of stories to tell. Whether he is serving others or creating masterpieces, he always stops to marvel at the beauty and opportunity in every day and every circumstance.
“I've been blessed with a wide variety of experiences in my life,” he said. “I have had the opportunity to experience all kinds of interesting things.”
After graduating from high school in Sidney, Montana, Dynneson worked on the first Boeing 707 off the line as an installation mechanic in Renton, Washington. He served for four years in the United States Air Force prior to college. He enjoyed serving on an on-call mountain search and rescue team and recalls having roast porcupine for Thanksgiving while on a rescue mission in Idaho.
Following his time in the Air Force, he attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, where he met his wife Judy in an art class. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art and a minor in psychology and then taught senior high school art in Ely, Nevada, and junior high art in Aurora, Colorado. After earning Master of Art and Master of Fine Art degrees from the University of Wyoming, he was hired by Concordia Nebraska in 1971. He taught at the university until 2000.
“I was very impressed with Concordia's faculty and staff. They have continued to nourish my Christian faith as well as my profession. Professors Reinhold Marxhausen, William Wolfram and Richard Wiegman were particularly supportive,” he said. “They provided models for my growth in art as a profession and exhibited strong Christian convictions in teaching and living the Lutheran faith.”
Although he taught a variety of courses during his time at the university, Dynneson recalled a few favorite classes and experiences.
“I taught a fundamentals class, and most of the students were non-art majors. I really enjoyed watching them respond to a diverse curriculum,” he said. “I was able to pique the interest of students who labeled themselves as non-artistic. I am blessed with a wide variety of interests, and it was a joy to share that with them. Some students were not comfortable in two-dimensional projects, but then loved ceramics and other three-dimensional media. I remember football players that didn't think they were artistic but then found things that they truly loved in the program.”
I am blessed with a wide variety of interests, and it was a joy to share that with them.
He recalled a favorite project from one of his classes.
“In the ceramics unit, we replicated the native American tradition of making pots,” he said. “There was once a brickyard off of south Columbia. I'd have the students dig the clay, construct the ware and fire the pots with dried cow chips.”
He said former university president Ralph L. Reinke's wife was taking the class one semester, and she had her husband help her find chips.
“Oh boy, I had the president of the university looking for cow chips,” he laughed. “And there were times I'd load students into the back of my old Chevy pickup to go dig clay. And then we'd go fire their pots out at my place. I don't think that would work today!”
After unexpectedly obtaining a swarm of bees from Wolfram, Dynneson found that he loved beekeeping.
“It's blossomed into an extensive hobby of 50 years,” he said. “It's a challenge now to keep the bees alive because of all of the threats to their welfare. But they are incredibly interesting creatures that the Lord has designed, and my how they thrive. When everything goes right, it is this beautiful harmony of cooperation. Everyone has their job, and they don't fuss, they just go about their business.”
With ample property east of Seward, Nebraska, Dynneson has plenty of room for his bees, the family's unique dome home and numerous, unique outdoor art installations.
“Our acreage provides gardening and the reliving of my agrarian Montana upbringing,” he explained. “The large windows of our geodesic dome home let us enjoy the unique selection of God's creation.”
Dynneson's art is on display in various places on the Concordia Nebraska campus, as well as at The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Nebraska District office in Seward. In 2002, he was also commissioned to create an 11-foot-tall stainless steel piece titled “Suffering Servant – Triumphant King” for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, Indiana.
“I consider this my most inspired and most successful work,” he said. “It's a beautiful combination of a hanging corpus seen from one side and the triumphant King image from the other. The entire project turned out to be a real blessing to me.”
His wife Judy, daughter Leanne and son Lane are artists in their own right.
“They also place a high value in creative idea making,” he said. “Each uses skills from which we all benefit. I am blessed with their support and love.”
Leanne was a professional musician who has played the violin for more than 30 years. She currently works as a librarian in Lincoln. When she started violin lessons many years ago, it sparked Dynneson’s interest in music, and he began studying the cello. He played for more than 30 years with the Lincoln Civic Orchestra and in Concordia's chamber orchestra. A shoulder injury prevents him from playing now, but he recalls the time fondly and is thankful for the lessons learned during the experience.
“That gave me an understanding and a vocabulary to parallel so many concepts of structure and expression between music and art,” he said. “I was able to reach some students to understand those aspects.”
Lane previously worked in media ministry at St. Andrews Lutheran church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, but is currently enjoying a successful career in welding. When he is not busy welding and raising his family, he crafts ceramic creations for sale through his business, Dynneson Clayworks.
Dynneson said he does miss his time at Concordia Nebraska and returns to campus from time to time. At 85, he said he has slowed down some and most of his art is created through welding and watercolor painting.
“Working with stone is physically challenging, so I find it's smarter to pursue art in other ways now,” he said. “I take great joy in my art pieces that are out in places for the public to see.”
When he is not engaged in other pursuits, he said he does enjoy fishing from time to time, and delights in being out in nature enjoying God's beautiful creation.
“Concordia Nebraska provided a strong foundation for my personal and professional growth,” he said. “The experiences of teaching and producing art that matches my particular skill have to be the work of the Holy Spirit. It has been a near perfect fit through the years. God gave me a charge of students who seemed to thrive with what I could offer. I have grown in the struggles both then and now. I am so blessed with this particular harness.”