By TOM BENSEN
The Missoula Public Library invites you to take part in The Big Read 2014 by reading Tim O’Brien’s book The Things They Carried. The Big Read is a project of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. There are events, workshops and discussions throughout October around this book.
Buttercup Market and Cafe is currently exhibiting the art of Michel Colville, who died in the Rattlesnake avalanche last February. Her textile artwork is on display at Buttercup (1221 Helen Ave) for another week. Call 541-1221.
Current exhibits at the Missoula Art Museum include The Art of Human Conflict Conflict (pictured here) 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.
The Missoula Public Library invites you to take part in The Big Read 2014 by reading Tim O’Brien’s book The Things They Carried.
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 (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 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 Ann Atkins with a presentation and signing ofEleanor Roosevelt’s Life of Soul Searching and Self Discovery, 10:30 a.m. at F&F Downtown.
Shakespeare and Co. presents Kim Zupan reading from The Ploughmen, October 21 at 7:00 p.m.; Kids’ Book Club meets October 22 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn, a story about a boy who works on a cruise ship that sails the skies and lands in far off places. New readers welcome; UM MFA alumna Caren Beilin reads from her novel The University of Pennsylvania October 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Wall Weeks at the University of Montana runs through November 10, at the Gallagher Business Building.
Wall Weeks at the University of Montana 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 UM School of Music presents the Faculty & Guest Artist Series withAmanda McCandless, clarinet, Music Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. on October 21; the Student Recital Series with Jake Whitecar, composition in his Graduate Recital, on October 22 in the Music Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m; the Student Ensemble Series’ “Jazz Residency Concert” featuring UM Jazz Ensemblesand Bob Washut, one of the leading jazz composers in the nation, at the Dennison Theatre on October 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Faculty & Guest Artist Series with The Glass Duo: Lorraine Glass-Harris, violin and Fern Glass Boyd, cello, and Friends performing works for strings & keyboard from three centuries, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall. Call 243-6880. 0
The Friendship Force of Missoula and Western Montana presents the Boo Bash at the Welcoma Club at 5:30 p.m. on October 29. Wear a costume and bring a decorated
pumpkin! Share your all things pumpkin recipes with us. Call Shawn (860-428-9301) with any questions you might
have about this meeting.
Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT) offers the Third Annual “Do It in 72” hours or less film contest.
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.
Author Jennifer Moxley will visit the University of Montana to read her poetry on Friday, October 24, as part of theFall 2014 UM Creative Writing Program President’s Writers-in-Residence Series. The reading will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Dell Brown Room of Turner Hall and is free and open to the public.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and to celebrate, YWCA Missoula will host a special screening of “Women’s Song,” a documentary film that shares the stories of Native American women survivors of sexual and domestic violence from across Montana. Lillian Alvernaz of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition will lead a discussion following the screening, which will begin at noon on Friday, October 24 at YWCA Missoula. Call 543-6691
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.
Living Art of Montana presents Day of the Dead Shrines with Bev Glueckert & Tana Ostrowski on Saturday October 25 at 10:30 a.m. ThisCreativity for Life workshop is open to anyone facing illness or loss including care providers and family members. We encourage bringing any items, photos or mementos that you would like to add to your project, but all other materials will be provided. No charge & art experience is not necessary. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Living Art of Montana, 725 W. Alder St #17 (Warehouse Mall). For more information, call 549-5329.
The Missoula City Cemetery presents Stories and Stones Historical Tour, Sunday, October 26 from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. One of Missoula’s oldest cemeteries presents an afternoon of history brought to life through the stories of individuals from Missoula’s past. Local volunteers reenact characters from Missoula’s history in the beautiful, park-like setting of the cemetery. New stories this year include Edgar Paxson and Emma Dickinson. Come enjoy this popular event for all ages. Call 552-6070 for more information.
The Missoula Symphony Association presents a Chorale Concert, featuring Four Seasons of Choral Music. Oct. 26, at 3:00 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre.
The Missoula Symphony Association presents a Chorale Concert, featuring Four Seasons of Choral Music. 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
Opening night of Jekyll & Hyde The Musical falls on Halloween and theMissoula Community Theatre is ready to celebrate! Join us for this haunting, gothic musical in costume. Patrons wearing their costumes will be entered into a raffle, with the chance to win spooky prizes and treats! Jekyll & Hyde The Musical runs October 31-November 2 and November 5-9 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. This show contains violence and adult situations and is not suitable for children. Tickets are available at the MCT Box Office, at 728-PLAY (7529), or at the MCT site.
The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center presents a series of International Dinners available for sale. They are offered by fabulous cooks in our community and each one becomes a memorable evening with friends new and old. Kyrgyz Dinner on Friday, November 7; Soltanto Pizza! Parte III (Just Pizza-Part III) on Saturday, January 17; Un Tour de France with jazz and joy on Saturday, January 25; Turkish Adventure on Saturday, February 21;Authentic Indian Dinner on Saturday, March 28; Saluting the Gay Men’s Choir on Saturday, May 23. Call 543-3955 for more information or to get in on some of them before they are gone.
The Montana World Affairs Council presents Global Gauntlet 2014, a dinner, raffle, and Team Trivia Fundraiser, benefiting the Montana World Affairs Council’s Classroom and Community Programs. Also included is the presentation of the Montana Global Educator of the Year Award. Saturday, November 15 at the DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom beginning at 5:00 p.m. Call 728-3328.
Master silversmith and consummate teacher Haddon Hufford will share all about his ancient metalsmithing techniques at the Art Associates of Missoulamonthly meeting, Wednesday, November 19, at 10:00 a.m. in the Education Center at the Missoula Art Museum, 335 N. Pattee St, Missoula. 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 International Wildlife Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the2015 festival, happening in Missoula, Montana April 18-25 at the historic Roxy Theater. Now in its 38th year, the week-long event will feature new and exciting films, special guests, workshops, seminars, field trips, technology sessions, product demos, parties and dynamic networking events. With 6,000 annual attendees, IWFF engages Missoula’s progressive community with dozens of screenings and events like the WildWalk Parade. A filmmakers’ festival, IWFF focuses on films and filmmakers, and celebrates emerging artists and the future of wildlife & environmental media. Our expanded programming welcomes all films about the natural world, from environmental and conservation films, to issue driven explorations of earth and its inhabitants.
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.