By TOM BENSEN
The Missoula Cultural Council is seeking nominations for the 17th Annual Missoula Arts and Culture Awards program. Individuals and businesses may be nominated in five separate categories: Cultural Achievement, Individual Artist, Arts Educator, Business Support for the Arts, and Cultural Vision. To make a nomination in one of the above categories, complete the one-page form found on the MCC website by Friday, February 12. The awardees will be honored at the MCC’s annual luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, at 11:30 am at Missoula’s Doubletree Hotel.
The Missoula Cultural Council is seeking nominations for the 17th Annual Missoula Arts and Culture Awards program. Individuals and businesses may be nominated in five separate categories: Cultural Achievement, Individual Artist, Arts Educator, Business Support for the Arts, and Cultural Vision. To make a nomination in one of the above categories, complete the one-page form found on the MCC website by Friday, February 12. The awardees will be honored at the MCC’s annual luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, at 11:30 am at Missoula’s Doubletree Hotel.
First Friday Gallery Walk occurs February 5 from 5:00-8:00 all through Missoula. This month’s gallery walk is sponsored by the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, occurring February 19-28.
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 now through February 20. 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; The 44th Benefit Art Auction Exhibition through February 3. MAM’s 44th Benefit Art Auction is this Saturday, February 6, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the University Center Ballroom. For tickets and information, visit here.
The Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula will be the featured charity for Montgomery Distillery’s Moscow Mondays! Come drink some amazing cocktails and support the museum’s education, exhibit, and restoration projects! $1.00 from each drink will go towards the museum. Enjoy drinks, good eats, and merry making with the Museum Crew. Tonight, February 1, from noon-8:00 p.m.
The University of Montana Department of Music presents a Faculty and Guest Artist Series: Sapphire Trio, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall, featuring faculty artists Maxine Ramey, clarinet, Margaret Nichols Baldridge, violin, and Jody Graves, piano; “Fusion VII” February 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the UM Dennison Theatre. A fast-paced collage of all the UM School of Music has to offer. Bands, orchestra, choir, jazz percussion, winds, piano and opera perform in more than 20 snap-shot, high-impact performances. Call 243-6880.
The Montana Repertory Theatre presents Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, with Missoula performances continuing February 4 and 6 before heading out on tour of Montana and other cities in the Midwest and Northeast. For more, visit here.
The Gallery of Visual Arts at the University of Montana presents What Lay Before – What Lay After, sculpture and paintings of Francis Paul Pearson, February 2-March 3, with an Opening Reception February 4 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. February 4.
The University Center Gallery presents “The Inevitable Comparison” now through February 25. Artist Alissa Wynne’s work features stretched garments that comment on rebellion and upbringing. Call 243-5555.
Radius Gallery is hosting a First Friday event February 5 from 5:00 -8:00 p.m., featuring the kinetic works of Stephen Glueckert (pictured here), the photography of Lucy Capehart, and the ceramic talents of Randi O’Brien, in addition to showing our represented artists and some of their newest works. Visit our website to see more details and images of the work here. Call 541-7070.
The Clay Studio of Missoula presents the International Cup 2016 through February with an Opening Reception February 5 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Visit here for more information.
The UM Jazz Artist Series III presents the Jeff Hamilton Trio, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall. For more information on this event and ticket prices please call 243-6880 or email here.
The Confucius Institute at UM presents the annual Chinese New Year Celebration and Chinese Talent Show at the University Center Ballroom, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. Kindergarten through high school students in Chinese language and cultural programs will perform Chinese songs, martial arts, dances and more. A light Chinese snack will be provided. Free and open to the public. For more 1nformation, call 243-2988.
Shakespeare and Co. presents Josh Wagner reading from his collection of short works Nothing in Mind, joined by Shawn Mihalik, reading from his novella The Assured Expectations of Things Hoped For, 6:00 p.m. on February 8.
Whether romance or comedy is what you are craving this February, you can satisfy both yearnings Valentine’s Day weekend with the pure lovely silliness of Gilbert & Sullivan! The Gondoliers, a delightful musical romp, is the result of a creative collaboration between the UM Opera Theater, UM Symphony Orchestra, and MCT. The Gondoliers plays at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts February 12-14. Tickets are available here, or call 728-7529.
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 will celebrate small things with its 4th Annual {mini} Show Benefit at Missoula’s newly renovated historic Wilma Theater on March 26. This gala event will bring together Missoula’s creative community to celebrate all things mini, from mini dessert auction, a mini silent and live art auction, and more! The Mini Show art opening will occur in the ZACC gallery on March 11. This is an annual fundraiser for the Zootown Arts Community Center. You are invited to submit your miniature creation for this Mini Art Show, which will be auctioned the night of the event, through silent auction (for most works) and a live auction for selected pieces. All work must be 12x12x12 or smaller. To submit or for more information, visit here.
The Art Associates of Missoula monthly meeting will be held Wednesday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. in the Education Center of the Missoula Art Museum, 335 N. Pattee St, Missoula. Botanical illustrator and painter Nancy Seiler will be sharing her art and inspirational designs. Art Associates meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please call Susie at 544-0891.
The Missoula Historic Preservation Commission is seeking nominations for the 2016 Missoula Historic Preservation Awards. Nominations are due by March 4. The 24th Annual Missoula Historic Preservation Awards will be judged by the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission, with the individuals and groups honored at a public, catered awards event during May, National Historic Preservation Month. Projects must have been completed in 2013, 2014 or 2015. Nomination Forms can be downloaded from the City’s Historic Preservation webpage. Nomination forms can also be obtained by contacting the Historic Preservation Office, or e-mailing a
request here.
Late Winter Aikido Intro for Beginning Adults. Try the martial art of harmony with an orientation on Saturday afternoon February 6 followed by four guided basics classes. For more information visit Aikido Missoula, call 549-8387 or come by the dojo. Preregistration required by February 4.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website.