The ART of community
Patrons browse art booths at a previous Arts in the Park event in Kalispell. (Photos courtesy of the Hockaday Museum of Art)
Artist Gail Hansen in her booth at a previous Arts in the Park event. (Photo courtesy of Hockaday Museum of Art)
People gather at a previous Arts in the Park event. (Photo by Brian Eklund/Courtesy of the Hockaday Museum of Art)
Artist Robert Marceau at his booth during a previous Arts in the Park event. (Photo by Brian Eklund/Courtesy of the Hockaday Museum of Art)
Museum members Margene and Alex Berry volunteer at the admissions gate at a previous Arts in the Park event. (Photo courtesy of the Hockaday Museum of Art)
After experiencing it for the first time last summer, Hockaday Museum of Art Executive Director Tracy Johnson has discovered the best way to make sure Arts in the Park runs smoothly.
“Don’t get in the way of the plan,” she said with a laugh. “Everybody’s got a job to do and it’s a big job to do to get all together, but we have a great team.”
The 48th annual Arts in the Park returns to Kalispell’s Depot Park this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, featuring more than 100 artists and craftspeople from around the country, plus live music, craft beer, local wine, a bevy of food trucks, face-painters and a climbing wall. It’s what Johnson — who’s been on the job for a little more than a year — called the museum’s “signature” fundraiser, and it’s one she and her staff spend half a year putting together.
Sharon Staso, the Hockaday’s manager of museum operations, chairs a six-person committee that oversees the weekend’s planning and execution. On top of the massive logistical undertaking that is squeezing everything into the park, Staso and the Arts in the Park committee are also responsible for selecting the artists who are chosen to participate.
“The artists are juried in so it’s very select,” Staso said. “We don’t pick everybody that applies. We had more applicants than just the artists that are going to be participating, so it’s a very high-quality show.”
Staso said artists selling pieces in the park will hail from all over the country, and many have returned year after year. That, she said, is a testament to the name the festival has made for itself in the last 47 years, and to the amount of art attendees from throughout the Flathead Valley have purchased.
“We have a really good reputation out there, throughout the artist community, especially out through the West,” Staso said. “I have a really good reputation for high-quality art and not just a craft show.
“Lots of repeats come back because they did well.”
Artists participating span a wide range of mediums, too, including jewelry, photography, fabric artists and sculptors. And while some of the larger pieces can fetch thousands of dollars at the show, some photo prints, jewelry and other smaller works come with a much more affordable price tag.
“Anyone on any budget could find something that would be unique and different,” Johnson said.
The Hockaday estimates around 8,000 people will stop by at some point over the weekend, purchasing either $3 single-day entries or $5 weekend passes. The weekend pass includes free admission to the museum, which will be open during Arts in The Park, including Sunday. Proceeds from those entrance fees are kept by the museum.
“It’s a good mix and it’s very reasonable to get in,” Johnson said. “It helps a good cause; it helps keep our programs and exhibits going.”
Of course, the art is only part of the weekend. Local food trucks will be cooking, Kalispell Brewing Co. will offer beer and Glacier Sun Winery will be pouring wine. For kids, a face-painter will be on hand and a climbing wall will be set up. On top of that, a packed live music schedule that includes 15 different performers begins at noon each day.
The event takes 75 volunteers to pull off and begins, for Hockaday staff at least, early Thursday morning when they begin transforming Depot Park. But the long weekend is a labor of love for Staso, Johnson and the team of volunteers that makes it happen.
“It’s well worth it,” Staso said. “We get really high praise from the people that come.
“It’s fun if you can live through it.”
The 48th annual Arts in the Park festival is open Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.hockadaymuseum.org.
LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE
Friday
Greg Grant, noon-1 p.m.
Don Beans, 1-2 p.m.
The Maple Trio, 2-3 p.m.
Will Peterson, 3-4 p.m.
Madamemagpie, 4-5 p.m.
Swiftcurrent, 5-6 p.m.
Saturday
Lee Zimmerman, noon-1 p.m.
Bruaboggs, 1-2 p.m.
Big Sky Hot Club, 2-3 p.m.
Timber Winds, 3-4 p.m.
Merle Robinson, 4-5 p.m.
Sounds of Karl Ross, 5-6 p.m.
Sunday
Greg Grant, noon-1 p.m.
Tra le Gael, 1-2 p.m.
Tonewall Jackson, 2-3 p.m.
Tropical Montana Marimba Ensemble, 3-4 p.m.