The Artist-Wilderness Connection Artist-In-Residence Program
What is the Artist-Wilderness Connection?
The program connects artists with the Flathead National Forest, Hockaday Museum of Art and area communities. The program consists of the Artist residency, Forest experience and the Community Extension. The artist benefits from having a remote setting to focus on their art and the community benefits from the presentations the artists offer from their experience.
In 2003, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Flathead National Forest, Hockaday Museum of Art and the Swan Ecosystem Center joined forces to create the Artist-Wilderness-Connection project.
Sixteen Montana artists have participated in the program since 2004 – Myni Ferguson and Annick Smith (2004), Janet Sullivan and Karin Connelly (2005), Carol Poppenga, Michael Patterson and Jane Latus Emmert (2006), Bill Knoll, Jane Kleinschmidt and Sally Hickman (2007), Larry Blackwood, Scott Friskics and Jennifer Smith (2008) and 2009 artists, Rob Akey, Bobby Tilton and James Clayborn.
The Artist Residency
The program places professional working artists in various disciplines, media and styles in remote forest cabins for seven and up to 14 days followed by a public presentation related to their residency. Group collaborations are considered and encouraged.
The Forest/Wilderness Experience
The program focus connects artists with wild lands like the Bob Marshall, Great Bear and Mission Mountain Wilderness Areas. All cabins in the program are located in the Flathead National Forest. Some cabins are very private, suggesting solitude, reflection and personal work; other sites offer the experience of working and/or living with Forest Service crews. The best residency experiences come from plans that allow for the unexpected and are entered into with an open mind.
The Community Extension
A public presentation accompanies each residency. It may include demonstrating art form or techniques to the public. This could include a showing, performance, open house, workshop or training session where the public or school groups can participate and learn from the artist about the experiences gained through their participation in the program. The workshops, performances, exhibits and other experiences communicate the values, processes, features and resources of both the artist and the forest. Program participants also donate a representative piece of their work to the Artist-Wilderness-Connection Program.
Participation
Click on the button to download the AWC application form.
The Artist-Wilderness Connection
A Collaborative Project managed by Flathead National Forest, Hockaday Museum of Art, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and Swan Ecosystem Center
For More Information
Teresa Wenum
Flathead National Forest 406/758-5218
Paul Travis
Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation 406/387-3847
