Fabric art on display at co-op

Monique Kleinhans is the featured artist in October at Paint, Metal and Mud Gallery in Kalispell.

Her “Back Roads” exhibit opens Oct. 4 with an artist reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The reception, which is open to the public, is part of downtown Kalispell’s First Friday event. 

Paint, Metal and Mud is a cooperative featuring 12 local artists’ work. At the gallery, Kleinhans shows her traditional quilts and her textile art — realistic and abstract works created with layers of thread and hand-painted fabrics. 

Born and raised in the Flathead, Kleinhans spent much of her childhood riding her bike on the valley’s many back roads. Her love of exploration and ability to see beauty everywhere are evident in her latest collection. 

“I love the adventure traveling down even a familiar road brings. Every day is full of potential to see something new, or to see something familiar in a new way,” she says.

“Some of my favorite subjects are old barns and abandoned buildings; I want to explore and hear their stories. Montana's history is visible not only in its landscape and geology, but in the old homesteads still standing under the wide open skies. While the wood and structure of these old buildings decay, the spirit and desire to live off of the land will never die in the hearts of those who see them."

Kleinhans creates her wall quilts using layers of thread as paint, creating realistic portraits of local landscapes and historic sites. Her three-dimensional art invites viewers to wander into the pieces — either to imagine the possibilities ahead or to preserve memories of a visit.

Paint, Metal and Mud is located at 16 First St. W., Kalispell. For more information, call 755-8886 or visit paintmetalandmud.blogspot.com.