Arts and Entertainment Events

Contra dance May 5

A contra dance will be held on Friday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Whitefish Community Center.

The evening includes live music with Grin and Bear It String Clan and callers are Mark Mathews and Mark Turbin.

Singles, couples, and children that can dance independently and follow callers' instructions are welcome. Younger children need to be supervised.

No experience is needed and each dance is taught.

Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Proceeds benefit Land to Hand.

Cawdrey Gallery features artist Elizabeth Butler

The Cawdrey Gallery is holding its first 2023 Gallery Night, Thursday, May 4 featuring new artist Elizabeth Butler.

Butler received her bachelors in fine art from Arizona State University. Towns such as Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Carmel, California have hosted one-woman shows for her. Butler has been featured in publications such as Fine Art Connoisseur and Phoenix Magazine.

Best known for sumptuous, large-format floral paintings, Butler's works resonate with stylish collectors seeking a new approach to the classical floral still life, according to the gallery.

Bold strokes with vivid color using flowers like protea, delphiniums and ranunculus drip off her canvas.

The gallery opens at 5 p.m. To see Elizabeth’s entire collection visit https://www.elizabethbutlerfineart.com/gallery or at cawdreygallery.com.

First Saturday at Ninepipes Museum

Ninepipes Museum welcomes the summer season with a special First Saturday event on May 6,

from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The day includes live music with Richard Tobel, frybread (The Frybread Ladies), artisans Lori Parr (Lavender Lori), and Tracy Tevis (Designs by Tracy). Historian and artist Steve Lozar will show his work, and Bob Bigart and Joe McDonald will chat about their latest book, “Salish and Kootenai Indian Chiefs Speak for Their People and Land 1865-1901.”

For more information, visit ninepipesmuseum.org or call 406-644-3435 for details. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Libby museum opens for season

The Heritage Museum’s annual “Opening Day Celebration” will be held on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the museum grounds on U.S. 2 in Libby.

Quilts will be on display by the Kootenai Valley Quilt Guild. The display runs through June 30.

At 10:30 a.m. Rich Aarstad, Montana State Archivist, will present a talk on the regiments created by the U.S. Military to cut timber and mill lumber in France during World War I.

At 11:30 a.mBecky Timmons will give a presentation on “Birds That Mimic.”

Then at 12:30 p.m., M. Lynn Barnes will present her findings after documenting some of the historic dress and textile collections as a volunteer at the museum.

The Big Sky Bow’s and Blowhards band will perform in the dance hall at 1 p.m.

The museum cookhouse will be open all day serving food.

For more information, visit www.libbyheritagemuseum.org or call (406) 293-7521.