Richie Carter's 'My West' show fuses original art and song

Local artist Richie Carter presents “My West” April 25 and 26 at the Sassafras Gallery in Kalispell.

“Last to Leave Here” original painting by local artist Richie Carter.

“Would I Go Had I Known” original painting by local artist Richie Carter.

| April 25, 2019 4:00 AM

Last to Leave Here original painting by local artist Richie Carter.

Would I Go Had I Known original painting by local artist Richie Carter.

Richie Carter is showing a solo painting exhibition Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26, in the Sassafras Ballroom located in the alley of 120 S. Main St. in downtown Kalispell. Titled “My West,” the show is not only an exhibition of paintings, but also a series of concerts by Carter, accompanied by his friends and fellow musicians. Although these two evening performances are already sold out, the pop-up gallery space will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 26.

Their band, Richie and the H.S., will perform these two shows in Carter’s hometown of Kalispell before bringing the concert and paintings to Billings for the May 2 opening at Montana Gallery. Each of the band’s five originals songs corresponds with one of the five major paintings that will be on exhibit during the show. The mix of paintings, music and stories tell of Carter’s personal adventure through life, especially the vulnerable struggles of his 20s and how his art has walked alongside him through it all.