This is among the few masks that I saw during a 4+ day visit to western South Dakota during February 2022. The simple style and colors – imposed onto a fire connection providing depth of dimension – was more powerful and symbolic than bumper stickers denigrating masks to prevent the spread of COVID. The headdress of the native people combined with the gas mask could be a commentary on a native culture fighting modern toxicity.

In the not so recent past, fans of select American sports culture might have found game day inspiration in combining a headdress and gas mask into a tailgate costume. As recently as the 2019 season, the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs allowed fans to wear headdresses into Arrowhead Stadium, but no longer. Gas masks are still allowed, perhaps encouraged during the COVID era.

The Art Alley in Rapid City is a single block. With the exception of the piece shown above, the art was not notable by big city standards, but toilet humor was present, as always:

Around the corner is Tally’s Silver Spoon, staffed with folks that are damn glad to live in South Dakota and will tell you about it. Especially the nice lady from Dayton, Ohio. Ask for her.