By TOM BENSEN
The Vienna International Ballet Experience (VIBE), hosted by the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and Destination Missoula, runs from January 12-16 at venues throughout Missoula. Events include a juried dance competition, the Global Dance Initiative, the Art of Diplomacy Conference at the UM Mansfield Center, a Film Festival at the Roxy Theater, and the Grand Finale Gala at the Wilma. Events take place at the UM Dennison Theatre, the University Center, the Silver, Fact and Fiction, Rocky Mountain Ballet, the Wilma, the Roxy For more information and the full schedule, visit here.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents Glorious Vista: Art of the American West from the MMAC Permanent Collection through February 20 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.
The Missoula Art Museum presents 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 World Affairs Council presents the Global Gauntlet Team Trivia Fundraiser, on Saturday, January 23 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Missoula. The evening will start at 5:00 p.m. and include a social hour, dinner, live auction and lively team trivia competition with Emcee Mayor John Engen. This event is open to the public and registration is open until January 15. For more details, call the Council at 728-3328 or register online here.
Radius Gallery spotlights the artworks by photographer Lucy Capehart, kinetic assemblage artist Stephen Glueckert, and ceramic sculptor Randi O’Brien. This work will be on display from January 12-February 20, with an artist reception on January 22 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Call 541-7070.
Registration now open for January-March 2016 Art Workshops with local artist Nancy Seiler. New this winter is Nature Journaling Series. Learn to draw and paint different natural history topics and be ready to go outside this spring with your nature journal to record what you see with more confidence. All workshops are located at 330 Brooks St. in Missoula (one block east of Caffé Dolce). Classes are limited to 10. To sign up, please email here or call 370-1254.
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.
Shakespeare and Co. presents Marty Essen presenting a slide-show and reads from his new book Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, 7:00 p.m. on January 13.
CoMotion Dance Project, based in the College of Visual & Performing Arts at the University of Montana, presents Fire Speaks the Land: An Active Audiences Performance Monday, January 25, 9:45-10:35 a.m., and again from 1:00-1:50 p.m., and Tuesday, January 26, 9:45-10:35 a.m. at the Montana Theatre, PAR/TV Center, UM Campus. Sponsored by SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning, Missoula County Public Schools, CoMotion Dance Project, and The University of Montana.
University of Montana Productions will host soulful singer-songwriter Allen Stone in concert at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, January 23, at UM’s Dennison Theatre. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and cost $20 for UM students and $25 for the general public, plus ticketing fees. Tickets can be purchased online here, by calling 243-4051 or 888-MONTANA (888-666-8262) during regular business hours. Opening for the show is is First Night Spotlight winner and Hellgate High School senior Leila Parsons.
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. For questions, contact Ben Mincks. here
The Montana Repertory Theatre presents Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, with a gala opening January 22, followed by Missoula performances January 23, 28,29,30, February 4 and 6 before heading out on tour of Montana and other cities in the Midwest and Northeast. For more, visit here.
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.
The Missoula Community Theatre ushers in 2016 with The Drowsy Chaperone, a Tony Award-winning spoof of musical comedies (January 21-31). Next up is The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged), a zany, non-musical production that will appeal to anyone who loves a good laugh (March 10-20). Rounding out the season is Mary Poppins, the Broadway musical (April 28-May 15). Visit here for more.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website