By TOM BENSEN
Wall Weeks at the University of Montana begins Monday, October 13, and runs through November 10, at the Gallagher Business Building. A commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Join UM as it looks back through film, discusses and lectures about the past 25 years since the Berlin Wall fell. A temporary wall constructed on the Oval will be torn down November 7. Sponsored by the UM School of Journalism, UM School of Business Administration, the German Section of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures at UM and the German Information Center USA. Information: call 243-5001, or contact Liz.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents Amanda Browder: End of the Infinite opening October 16, running through January 10, 2015 in the Meloy Gallery, and Vanessa German: Bitter Root from October 16 -January 10 in the Paxson Gallery. On Thursday, October 16, from 5:00-7:45p.m., there is an conversation with visiting artist Amanda Browder in the Masquer Theater, followed by a reception for the artist in the PARTV Center Lobby from 5:45 – 7:00 p.m.
The 10th annual Outdoor Sculptre Show at Caras Nursery is on display now through October 15, located at 2727 South 3rd West.
At the Missoula Art Museum: Pamela Caughey: Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogens through December 2
Current exhibits at the Missoula Art Museum include The Art of Human Conflict Conflict through December 24; Pamela Caughey: Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogens through December 2; Helen McAuslan: The Kent State Paintings, on loan from the Museum of the Rockies, through November 22; Crossing the River: Hmong Story Cloths through December 24; Kate Hunt: Recent Works through February 21, 2015; Elizabeth Dove: Corpus of the Unknowable through January 31, 2015 (pictured here).
Zootown Arts Community Center (ZACC) presents Free and Family Friendly Festival of the Dead Workshops: now through November 1 – Big (Wearable) Heads; October 15 – Sugar Skulls; October 18 – Shrine Building I; October 22 – Shrine Building II; November 2 – Face Painting before the Missoula Festival of the Dead Parade.
ZACC, KBGA College Radio, and the University Of Montana’s Physical Therapy Student Association are partnering to present The Halloween Haul, a 5k costume fun run that will begin in McCormick Park and traverse the river trails of Missoula. The run commences on October 25 at 2:00 p.m. Call the ZACC office at 549-7555 or contact linds.
Fact & Fiction presents Derek Strahn reading and signing The Montana Medicine Show’s Genuine Montana History at 7:00 p.m. on October 16; and David Cates reading and signing Tom Connor’s Gift, at 7:00 p.m. October 17. Both events are at F&F Downtown.
Shakespeare and Co. presents a poetry reading with local writer Mark Gibbons reading from his newest collection of poems entitled Shadowboxing, October 17 at 7:00 p.m.
The UM School of Music presents presents Mary Cyprian, mezzo-soprano in her Graduate Recital, at the Music Recital Hall, October 13 at 7:30p.m. Call 243-2441.
The public is invited to a free screening of the documentary film “Coal Road to China” on Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. at University of Montana’s University Center Theater. This is a free event. However, donations will be greatly appreciated to help take the film on the road. After the film Q & A with an expert panel including: Steve Running, Regents Professor, School of Forestry, University of Montana; Bill Ritchie, Former Coal Mine Manager; Dr. George Seielstad, Astronomer/Physicist; Dr. Paul Smith, Pediatric Pulmonologist; Alaina Buffalo Spirit, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Member; Ian Lange, PhD, Geologist. For more information, contact Jan Hoem at 327-1290.
The final open call entry deadline for the 2015 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is October 14. The festival will take place February 6-16, 2015 in downtown Missoula at the historic Wilma Theater, Top Hat Lounge, and Crystal Theater. This event is the largest documentary film festival in the American West, the largest cinema event in Montana, and a must-see destination for filmmakers and documentary devotees the world over. Submit Your Film here.
Wall Weeks at the University of Montana begins Monday, October 13, and runs through November 10, at the Gallagher Business Building.
The Friendship Force of Missoula and Western Montana are holding a Membership Night at the Montgomery Distillery October 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bring friends and socialize.
Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT) offers the Third Annual “Do It in 72” hours or less film contest. Contestants will get 72 hours to make a short movie to compete for prizes of $500, $300 and $100.00. The completed short film (under five minutes) can be any style or subject but must be shot & edited within three days. MCAT is going to release the three elements that have to be in the movie 72 hours before the deadline of Monday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m. To enter, contestants should come to MCAT on Friday, October 10 at 5:00 p.m. and hear about the three elements that have to be in the film. In past years the elements have included a particular line of dialogue, a location, or the display of certain numbers in a scene of the completed film. MCAT can also lend equipment to contestants given enough advance notice. MCAT is located at 500 North Higgins. The completed films will be screened at the Roxy Theater on Saturday October 25 at 7:00 p.m. and the prize money will be awarded to the winners. Entering the contest is free and open to participants of all ages. Contestants can make their movie on a smart phone, point and shoot camera or sophisticated equipment. The judges are looking for originality and spirit. For more information visit MCAT’s website, or call Joel at 542-6228.
A Carousel for Missoula, a volunteer-built, hand-carved carousel in Caras Park, will be the topic of the Art Associates of Missoula monthly meeting. Please join us Wednesday, October 15, at 10:00 a.m. in Caras Park at the carousel to learn more about the carousel and its Painted Ponies! Art Associates meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please call Susie at 544-0891
The International Choral Festival and the UM School of Music will present their annual benefit performance of George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre on the UM campus. This free concert is a beloved community sing-a-long with a volunteer chorus, which has delighted local singers and audiences annually since 1995. The chorus will be conducted by Dr. David Edmonds, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Montana, and accompanied by an orchestra of professional area musicians. And, honorable Mayor John Engen will be there too to welcome everyone and to mark the official kick-off of the holiday season in Missoula with this concert.
Join the Chorus by signing-up online at either website. The concert is free to the public, but as a fundraiser, singers are required to raise or donate a minimum of $75 to join the chorus ($40 for students), and are encouraged to obtain sponsorships from friends and family that exceed these minimums. Exciting prizes such as overnights with deluxe lodging, float trips, gift certificates, etc. will be awarded to those singers who bring in the highest level of sponsorships. Proceeds will equally support Missoula’s 10th International Choral Festival scheduled for July 13-17, 2016, and the UM School of Music students traveling to Vienna.
The University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance presents Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, continuing October 14-18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montana Theatre, PARTV Center, U of M Campus.
Missoula’s premier vocal ensemble Dolce Canto has produced a new audio compilation of Christmas music entitled, “A Joyful Season.” This new recording includes a wide selection of familiar carols, spirituals, and contemporary compositions that you will want to share with your family and loved ones during the holiday season. To celebrate the CD’s release, the choir will host a free public event at the Downtown Dance Collective (121 W. Main St.) on Saturday, October 18, at 6:00 p.m. The CD release party will feature refreshments, social time with the choir, and live a cappella singing. For more information, visit the DolceCanto website.
Learn Aikido, the martial art of harmony, with a 4 Week Fall Intro for beginning adults starts Tuesday, October 21 at 5:30 p.m. This class meets Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., through November 13. For more information, visit the website.
The Missoula Symphony Association presents a Chorale Concert, “Chorale Center Stage.” The Missoula Symphony Chorale’s annual stand-alone concert this year takes you on a musical journey through the four seasons, celebrating some of the world’s great choral composers. October 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre. Call 721-3194 for tickets and more information.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live is back at the Wilma Theatre October 30 at 8:00 p.m., October 31 at 8:00 and midnight, and November 1 at midnight. $25. Tickets available at Rockin’ Rudy’s or Ticketweb.com
The Missoula Community Theatre opens Jekyll & Hyde The Musical at 7:30pm on Halloween night! You have time to take the little goblins out for Trick-or-Treating before coming to the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. There are special treats and tricks for those in costume. It runs October 31-November 2 and November 5-9. The show depicts violence and adult content and is not suitable for children. Call 728-7529, or visit the MCT site for tickets.
The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre directors, dancers, musicians, Native Americans, performance artists, Missoulian videographer, and crew are traveling to China to perform the Destination Missoula program to Beijing, and throughout the Henan and Guangxi Provinces. While in China, RMBT will perform for Ambassador Max Baucus and his wife Melodee, Chinese Cultural and Foreign affairs officials, USA embassy and consulate officials and for many large Chinese audiences. Additional funds are still needed to cover our remaining expenses. Visit the Kickstarter page to donate.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website.
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Tom Bensen has lived in Missoula since 1986, and has been the executive director of the Missoula Cultural Council since June 2004. He has directed First Night Missoula each New Year’s Eve since 1997. He is a member of Missoula’s choral ensemble Dolce Canto, and enjoys being outdoors, whether it is hiking, biking, skiing, walking the dogs, or mowing the lawn. His wife Susan works for Montana Public Radio, and their son Peter attends Hellgate High School.