By TOM BENSEN
First Night Missoula, the New Year’s Eve community celebration of the arts, begins at noon this Thursday. 12 hours, 80 events, 25 venues. Admission buttons are $15 ($18 on December 31). Visit here or call 541-0860 for more information.
First Night Spotlight, the annual High School singing competition, will be held at the Dennison Theatre on the UM campus this year during First Night Missoula on New Year’s Eve. Admission is a First Night Button plus a $2 ticket ($3 on December 31) to assure your seat for the show. Visit here for tickets and information.
The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre presents the Vienna International Ballet Experience (VIBE) January 12-16 at venues throughout Missoula. A special preview of this week long festival occurs during First Night at 5:00 p.m. a the UM Dennison Theatre. Visit here for more.
Hands-on Art, Historical Presentations, Live Performances, and a Count-Down to New Year’s Eve. Volunteers are still needed. Visit here for all the information.
A last minute addition to First Night is a series of Poetry Readings at Shakespeare and Co. Iridesce includes readings by Sheryl Noethe, Henrietta Goodman, Bridget Carson, Jack Shifflett, Alicia Mountain, Melissa Mylchreest, Jared Burkhart, and others. 5:00 p.m., 103 South 3rd Street West.
The Missoula Art Museum presents two events at First Night: Wilbur Rehman (pictured here) at 1:00 p.m. and Michael and Keleren Millham at 2:30 p.m. Continuing exhibitions include Terrain: Plateau Native Art & Poetry through February 27, 2016; John Buck: Free for All through March 12; Good Wood: Carved And Cut From MAM’s Permanent Collection through March 12; MaryAnn Bonjorni: Legends Are History, through January 2. The 44th Benefit Art Auction Exhibition opens January 8 with an Artist Reception from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Mam’s 44th Benefit Art Auction is Saturday, February 6, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents Glorious Vista: Art of the American West from the MMAC Permanent Collection, from January 7 – February 20, 2016 in the Paxson and Meloy Galleries. From the Pueblos of New Mexico to Glacier National Park, this exhibition explores the landscapes and people of the Rocky Mountain West during the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Edgar Paxson, Joseph Henry Sharp, Charles M. Russell, Ace Powell, Julius Seyler, Nancy McLaughlin, and George Catlin.
Radius Gallery ushers in the new year with a 20% off sale of works by Courtney Blazon at both Radius and Clyde Coffee. If there was a piece you were previously drooling over, now is the perfect opportunity. Call 541-7070.
Zootown Arts Community Center has two Calls for Artists. Art Activism, co-sponsored with the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, has a deadline of January 10, 2016. All Works must depict a social, environmental, or political issue. This juried group show is kicking off 2016’s Big Sky Film Festival in February. The 4th Annual Mini Benefit Show deadline is February 1, 2016. All Works must be 12″x12″x12″. This art auction celebrating everything miniature will take place on March 26, 2016 at the Wilma. Visit here for more.
The Sweat Shop, at 225 North Higgins, has a grand opening on New Year’s Day from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy live music by local musician Sam Waldorf, NOTORIOUS P.I.G. samplers, drinks, door prizes and a raffle for a month of unlimited fitness and yoga classes at The Sweat Shop. The free event will include an art showcase entitled Placeless Landscapes by local artist Sarah Hultin.
New Year Aikido Intro for Beginning Adults: Try the martial art of harmony with an orientation on Saturday afternoon January 9 followed by four guided basics classes. For more information visit here, call 549-8387 or come by the dojo, 208 E. Main, 2nd floor of the historic Union Hall Building. Preregistration required by January 7.
The Missoula Public Library shows a free international film monthly on the 2nd Friday of the month. All films are shown in original language with subtitles. We hope this program is of interest to you, and we offer an attached copy of this month’s film for printing and posting. Please forward to any who may be interested in MPL’s free foreign film series. January’s film is The Lesson: From Bulgaria, the film is in Bulgarian with English subtitles and runs 111 minutes. Loosely based on a real-life incident, this gripping drama has won awards at several international film festivals for best new directors, best screenplay, and best film debut. Join us for a screening and brief discussion (optional) on Friday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room. Lower level doors will be open from 6:45-7:15. Call 258-3848.
The Art Associates of Missoula monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 20, at 10:00 a.m. in the Education Center of the Missoula Art Museum, 335 N. Pattee St, Missoula. Kiln-fired Fused Glass Artist Katie Patten will be sharing her artistry and inspiration. All Art Associates meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please call Susie at 544-0891.
The Missoulian is accepting submissions for the 2016 MLK Youth Art & Essay Contest. Submit a piece of 2-D art work or an essay, poem or letter of no more than 250 words in response to the quote “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Handwritten or typed essays will be accepted. Artwork may be any medium but no larger than 8.5 X 11 inches. On the back of each entry please include the student’s full name, grade, school, home address and home telephone number. Entries will not be returned unless special arrangements are made. To enter you must be a student in preschool-12th grade in Western Montana. Entries must be received at the Missoulian by December 18. Winners will receive a cash prize, be featured in the Missoulian, and recognized at the MLK Community Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2016.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre celebrates 2016 with its original, world-premiere of The Snow Queen. This winter performing arts class runs January 18-February 21 and is open to Grades K-12. Give the gift of wonder this Holiday season with a registration to The Snow Queen! Register here.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website.