On March 27, 2007 ArtsMontana.com was inaugurated with a few posts and its first visitors. Based on the current trend of increasing visits as “artsmo” becomes known and develops an audience, the traffic prediction for our second year is 10,000 visitors who will view over 30,000 pages on the site.

ArtsMontana.com was created out of a desire to make the best of Livingston arts visible, both locally and nationally, from a one-stop site. As it develops, ArtsMontana.com is also becoming a resource for those in the arts, with announcements of exhibition and other opportunities for artists and writers. The audience so far is mostly regional (all over Montana), but there are also substantial numbers of visitors from around the United States and the world.

What I hope for in the coming year is more participation through comments and posts from others. I would also like to keep visitor traffic numbers rising by providing useful and interesting content and, based on that, garner more support from businesses who want to list in Livingston’s only searchable, browsable, and clickable directory. Modest revenue from directory listings would enable more promotion of the site, and more visibility for Livingston arts and the businesses and organizations supporting the arts.

I’m looking forward to the second year of ArtsMontana.com, and I appreciate the artists and readers who visit the site, tell others about it, and see its value. Thank you to all of you and to those who have become sponsors.

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The 11th annual Danforth Lecture series begins March 27 with Tom Murphy’s slideshow and talk about his trip to Antartica. Murphy, whose lecture last year made for a delightful and visually wonderful evening, is returning for his second year.

The final three lectures in the series are “The Thoughtful Landscape,” with Aaron Schuerr on April 10, a screening of the music documentary “The Making of Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume 2” with filmmaker Joanne Gardner on April 17, and “The Main Street Show Revisited” with Mike Devine on April 24th. (The screening of Joanne Gardner’s music documentary was a such huge hit last year that The Danforth decided to reprise it. If you missed it last year, arrive early for this excellent night of video and music.)

It looks like another great lecture season at The Danforth.

For more information about The Danforth Lecture Series, visit pcfadanforth.org or call the gallery (limited spring hours) at 222-6510 or Traci Isaly at 586-7062.

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From the Danforth Press Release:

“Changing climate, maritime ecology, and the harsh beauty of Antarctica will be the topic of discussion on March 27th from 6:30–8:00 p.m. at the Danforth Gallery in Livingston Montana. Award winning photographer and expedition guide Tom Murphy will once again captivate his audience with his stories of adventure focusing on the unique aspects of this southern most part of the globe. Murphy has traveled numerous times to regions of Antarctica, including South Georgia Island. He has witnessed first hand the vastness of an area that sustains the life of few, albeit numerous, species that rely on a finite ecological balance in order for their survival. Murphy has witnessed as well the undisputable effects of global warming. Photographs of Albatross, King penguins, Rock Hopper penguins, Gentoo penguins, seals, whales and dolphins will be among the many species included in Murphy’s slide presentation. With a unique ability to transform his own personal experience into one that can be shared by all, Murphy, through his colorful expression, knowledge and photographs will take us on an educational journey to Antarctica.”

(Above right, © Tom Murphy Photography. “Adele Penguins Standing on Ice 2.”)

For more information about The Danforth Lecture Series, visit pcfadanforth.org or call the gallery (limited spring hours) at 222-6510 or Traci Isaly at 586-7062.

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Livingston artist Patricia Buckley’s work is currently in the “Speaking Volumes” show at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Montana.
When the Montana Human Rights Network acquired 4,000 volumes of white supremacist propaganda from a defecting official of the World Church of the Creator, they approached the Holter Museum with the idea of transforming the material into art.

More than 100 artists from across the United States responded to the Holter’s open invitation, creating sculpture, video, paintings, photographs, collage, prints, book art, beadwork, fiber, and performance art. From those submissions, the Holter selected more than 60 pieces to create this thought-provoking exhibition that “turns dark to light.”

According to the Holter, “This exhibition seeks to challenge and expand us by bringing us face-to-face with different perspectives, breaking through the limits of our comfort, and taking us beyond familiar ground to new territory.”

Buckley’s work in the show uses her extensive experience in book arts, mixed media, and installations to create a visually arresting mixed media installation (book, barbed wire, coal, and other materials) that transforms the “White Man’s Bible” from the supremacist material.

More of Buckley’s work can be seen at The Drawing Room at 117 East Callender Street in Livingston. The Holter Museum exhibit opened on January 25 and runs through April 13, 2008.

(Above left: “Perfect Bound,”artist Patricia Buckley’s installation at The Holter Museum. © 2007, Patrica Buckley.)

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Other Montana artists in the show: John Buck (Bozeman), Dana Boussard and Ariana Boussard Reifel (Arlee), Jane Waggoner Deschner (Billings), Ralph Esposito (Helena), Tom Foolery (Dillon), George Foster (Lewistown), Pam Gerwe (Whitefish), Stephen Glueckert (Missoula), Valerie Hellerman (Helena), Dave Kirk (Willow Creek), Lisa Jarrett (Missoula), Mary Ann Papanek-Miller (Missoula), Richard Notkin (Helena), Ellen Ornitz (Manhattan), Tim Speyer (Helena), and Kathy Weber (Dillon). You can see images of works in the show at The Holter Museum’s Web site.

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MoveOn.org has announced an “Obama in 30 seconds” ad contest. They are seeking real ads from real people, with a $20,000 gift certificate for a video camera/production setup as the prize, as well as a national airing of the winning ad. Deadline is April 1.

Ads must be about Barack Obama and portray him in a positive light. No personal attacks are allowed, and the ad cannot talk about or refer to Hillary Clinton, although it is okay to mention John McCain in the context of contrasting him with Obama.

MoveOn.org has endorsed Barack Obama.

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