By TOM BENSEN
The Missoula Cultural Council is now accepting applications to participate in the Last Best Solstice: Art on the River. The event will be held on June 21, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Artists are needed to create art throughout the day or provide a demo of their specific process. Visual artists working in all disciplines are encouraged to apply. The event will be held on the Clark Fork Riverfront Trail. Participating artists and galleries will be provided with space to create and sell art throughout the day. MCC will handle sales in order to provide artists with more time to create art and engage the public. Deadline for applications is this Thursday, April 30.
Three of the five award winners for the 2015 Montana Governor’s Arts Awards are from Missoula! Congratulations to artist Lela Autio author Debra Magpie Earling, and the Missoula Art Museum. Visit here for more information.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents Art of the State: 120 Artworks for 120 years, an exhibition celebrating the 120th Anniversary of the Permanent Collection, now through May 23. MMAC and MOLLI present a Special MOLLI Class: An Insider’s Guide to the Montana Museum of Art & Culture: 120 Artworks for 120 Years with Brandon Reintjes, MMAC Curator of Art on Mondays, April 27, May 4 and May 11, 3:00-4:30 p.m. Preregistration with MOLLI required. Call 243-2905.
The Missoula Art Museum presents Theo Ellsworth: Thought Clouds through June 26; Renée Brown: Profusion through June 20; Big Sky High School Art Club through May 29; Jeneese Hilton: Raven Reviewing Modern through August 22; The Andy Warhol Collection from Museum Of Art at Washington State University through August 15 (pictured here). The Montana Triennial exhibit opens this Friday, May 1, with an Artist’s Reception and Gallery Talk as part of First Friday.
The University of Montana School of Music presents the Composers’ Showcase, April 27, at 2:10 and 7:30 p.m. at the UM Music Recital Hall; the UM Symphonic Wind Ensemble, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre; Student Recital Series with Sean Brogan, Piano, May 3, at 3:00 p.m. in the UM Music Recital Hall; the Capps-Rickard Singer of the Year Concert, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the UM Music Recital Hall.
The City of Missoula Development Services planning staff along with Our Missoula Project citizen volunteers invites the public to an open house unveiling draft policy language and future land use scenarios for Missoula’s Growth Policy on April 30, 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel. The open house is an opportunity to comment on the goals and objectives of the six citizen focus groups who have met over the last half year to create community policy direction for Missoula city. The public can drop by at their convenience.
May is Historic Preservation Month, beginning with the Historic Preservation Awards Dinner and Celebration in the Governors Ballroom at the Historic Florence Hotel, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. this Friday, May 1, featuring guest speaker Jim McDonald of A&E Architects. Architectural Tours occur through the month. All Historic Preservation Month events are free and open to the public. Accommodations can be made in advance for those requiring additional assistance to attend. For more information call lease contact Leslie Schwab, Historic Preservation Officer or call 552-6638
Turning the Wheel Missoula presents Tapestry Thursdays now through June 4. A deep and playful dive into movement and community improvisation, at Headwaters Dance Studio. Registration required here. $10. per class, $80. for the session
Fact and Fiction presents Independent Bookseller Day on May 2. Come see unique specially designed Broadsides, linen towels, chapbooks, socks and much more as we celebrate books, authors and reading all day, Saturday, May 2, at both F&F locations.
This Friday, May 1, is First Friday Gallery Night throughout downtown Missoula from 5:00-8:00 p.m. This month’s sponsor is the Dana Gallery, with its annual Icons of the West show opening May 15.
Shakespeare and Co. presents Philip J. Burgess, reading and signing Henry’s Cows, Wednesday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m.; Word Tasting Tour with Joshua Millburn, Friday, May 1, at 7:00 p.m.; and Josh Simmons, reading and signing Black River, Saturday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m.
The Radius Gallery presents “Everyone in me is a Bird”: New Works by Courtney Blazon and Susan Carlson, now through May 2, with a First Friday reception May 1.
The University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance presents Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter, April 28-May 2 and May 5-9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Masquer Theatre, PARTV Center, UM Campus. Call 243-4488 for more information.
April 30 is the 40th Anniversary of the End of the Vietnam War and the Liberation of Saigon. The University of Montana Students for Peace & Justice and the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center present the Peace & Justice Film series featuring the film Hearts and Minds (USA: 1974, 112 min.), Wednesday, April 29, at 6:00 p.m. in the U.C. Theater on the 3rd Floor of the University Center. All Films are Free and Open to the Public.
The Missoula Community Theatre is closing out the 2014-15 season with Shrek The Musical from May 1-3, 6-10 and 13-17 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. On Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. there is a special adapted performance for people living on the autism spectrum. Tickets for all performances are available at the website, by calling 728-7529 or at the MCT box office.
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the annual Preserving Missoula County History Grant program. This program is open to all Missoula County non-profit organizations involved in historic preservation and interpretation projects in Missoula County. A total amount of $10,000 is available for one-time projects with a demonstrable long-term impact for local history; individual projects are limited to a maximum grant of $5,000. For details and applications contact Matt Lautzenheiser, Executive Director, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, 3400 Captain Rawn Way, Missoula, MT, 59804; 728-3476, extension 1; or e-mail here. Application deadline is June 15, 2014 (earlier submission is recommended).
Tangled Tones presents Summer Camps 2015, for various ages and interests. Summer of Rock and Digital Recording Camp.
Visit here for more information.
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.