Reception to honor trio of artists
The Flathead National Forest, Hockaday Museum of Art, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and the Swan Ecosystem Center will host a reception and presentation of “Forest Inspirations: An Extension of the Artist-Wilderness-Connection Program” at Flathead Valley Community College on Tuesday.
A reception with light refreshments and live music by Porter Creek will begin at 5 p.m. in the college’s Arts and Technology Building. There will be an opportunity to meet the 2011 artists, Salena Beckwith, Andrea Brew and Lauren Grabelle.
Grabelle, a Bigfork photographer, focuses on documenting the relationships between dogs and their humans, brides and grooms, and the Earth and its people. Columbia Falls quilter and fabric artist Beckwith designs award-winning quilts that reflect her love of the outdoors. Nature inspires Whitefish artist Brew’s vibrant acrylic paintings.
The event will include a slide presentation by Grabelle that shares her 12-day residency experience in the Great Bear Wilderness at Granite Cabin, including the findings of challenges, serenity and deep companionship. Beckwith will present a slide show of her photo journal from her residency in the Bob Marshall Wilderness at Pentagon Cabin, plus display quilts she has designed to reflect the wilderness landscape and share some of the techniques used to create her fabric art.
“This is a great opportunity for the public to learn firsthand how some of our talented local artists are inspired by the Flathead National Forest and how this translates into unique pieces,” said Teresa Wenum, the forest’s conservation education specialist. “We greatly appreciate Flathead Valley Community College and the arts department for hosting this fourth annual event and exhibit.”
The program partners also appreciate the assistance of the Backcountry Horsemen of the Flathead in helping pack several artists into the backcountry, and of Glacier Association for helping support the event.
The Artist-Wilderness-Connection Program is a cooperative artist-in-residence program that connects Montana artists and local communities with local wild lands.
Professional working artists of various disciplines, media and styles spend time in a remote forest cabin on the Flathead National Forest to focus on their art. After completing their residency, artists select a format to share their talents and residency experience with the community and donate a representative piece of their art to the program.
Much of the artwork created since the program was initiated in 2004 will be on display in the Arts and Technology Building from Sept. 21 through Oct. 14.