By TOM BENSEN
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents Amanda Browder: End of the Infinitein the Meloy Gallery (pictured here), and Vanessa German: Bitter Rootin the Paxson Gallery. Both exhibits run through January 10, 2015. To honor MMAC’s 120th anniversary,the museum has published the first-ever guide to the permanent collection, The Art of the State: 120 Artworks for 120 Years. Learn more here
Fact & Fiction celebrates Montana Poetrywith several essayists each sharing a poem at 5:30 p.m. on December 12; The International Choral Festival Book Fairwith author signings throughout the day December 13; Ken Egan signing Montana 1864at 1:00 p.m. on December 14; Gary Fergusonreading and signing The Carry Homeat 7:00 p.m. on December 15. All events are at F&F Downtown.
Current exhibits at the Missoula Art Museum include The Art of Human Conflict Conflictthrough December 24; Pamela Caughey: Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogensthrough December 24; Crossing the River: Hmong Story Clothsthrough December 24 (pictured here); Kate Hunt: Recent Worksthrough February 21, 2015; Elizabeth Dove: Corpus of the Unknowablethrough January 31, 2015; Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts: Selected Worksthrough March 21, 2015; Pat Zentz: Triothrough March 28, 2015.
Shakespeare and Co. presents Nance Van Winckelreading from her latest book Ever Yrs, a novel in scrapbook form, and Spokane poet Tod Marshallreading from his new collection of poems, Bugle,at 7:00 p.m. on December 12; Local author J en Nitzreads from her book Rubix Ruckus Reubenstein, a story inspired while hiking with her new best friend. Rubix will be in the store to shake hands and sign paw-tographs. All ages welcome. 9:00 a.m. on December 13.
Dunrovin Ranch in Lolopresents DaysAtDunrovin, its first ever on-site/on-line book club featuring books about Western Women. We are honored to have author and University of Montana professor Judy Bluntserve as the on-site host and Diane Diane J. Hoffmanfrom Princeton, NJ. to serve as our on-line host. Conversations with Judy Blunt and other authors will be broadcast via our web camera and include responding to questions from on-line participants. Call 273-7745 for more information.
The Hip Stripinvites you to our warming stationfor the holidays, Located on the Hip Strip at 509 S. Higgins. Each Saturday between now and December 20, you will have the opportunity to be dazzled by a local non-profits gift wrapping talents and warm up with some cider and treats. Each Non-profit will provide a unique and special gift wrap, for a donation of your choice, for each of your lovely gifts. Call 543-3955 or visit Jeanette Rankin
The Friendship Force of Missoula and Western Montanahosts the Annual Meeting, Elections & Holiday Celebrationpotluck, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Welcoma Club. Please bring a Secret Santa gift (wrapped, no tag, $10 limit) for a fun exchange and your yummiest potluck dish to share Visit the website for more information.
The UM School of Music presents the 3rd Annual “Holiday Swing”featuring the UM Jazz Ensemblewith special guest singer/pianist Kate Skinnerand holiday big band favorites of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Duke Ellingtonand more, at the Missoula Winery and Event Center , December 12 and 13 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. For ticket information, call Rob Tapper, 406.243.6880.
New Year’s Evemarks the 21st annual First Night Missoula
, a community-wide celebration of the arts with more than 80 events and activities throughout Downtown, University of Montana Campus, Southgate Mall, Glacier Ice Rink, McCormick Park, and Peak Health and Wellness Center from noon until midnight. Admission buttons are $15 and are available at over 20 locations beginning this week. For more information visit our website
or call 541-0860.
Montana women’s history comes alive on Friday, December 12 from noon to 1 p.m. at YWCA Missoula as Prof. Anya Jabourpresents, “Montana Women Making History.”This free lecture offers biographical sketches of some of Montana’s most significant women reformers: Jeannette Rankin, the Missoula pacifist who voted against U.S. entry into both world wars; Hazel Hunkins, a Billings woman who went to federal prison for picketing the White House on behalf of suffrage; Maggie Smith Hathaway, who pioneered child welfare legislation in the state; and Helen Piotopowaka Clarke, the first Native American woman elected to public office in the Montana Territory.
World Wide Cinemaat the Missoula Public Library presents “The Auction”on December 12 at 7:00 p.m. Inspired by the Balzac novel Le Pere Goriot, this drama is directed by Sebastien Pilote and was a winner at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. Join us at Missoula Public Library for a screening and brief discussion on Friday, December 12 at 7:00 pm in the Large Meeting Room. Lower level doors will be open from 6:45-7:15. Call 258-3848
The Missoula Community Chorus
Presents Et in Terra Paxfeaturing John Rutter’s Gloria, Friday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Anthony Church, 217 Tremont Ave. Call 493-9255
or email chorusmanager@missoulachorus.net
The Buttercup Cafe presents several holiday events this month: Nutcracker Brunchwith Baby & Bukowskion December 13, and Art Showwith Bayla Lakson December 14. Enjoy caroling on December 23 from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Winter Wonderettesruns December 12-14 and 17-21 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts . Wednesday-Saturday night performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $15.00-$21.00 and can be purchased at the MCT box office (200 North Adams), online here , or by calling 728-7529. In January, the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s winter class and world premiere of Gulliver’s Travelsbegins for K-12 children. For tickets and class registration information, call 728-7529 or visit the website .
Living Art of Montana presents Folk Art Cards with Loretta Vizzuttion December 13 at 10:30 a.m.; and Holiday Social with Tracy Pohndorfon December 20 at 10:30 a.m. These Creativity for Lifeworkshops are open to anyone facing illness or loss including care providers and family members. All materials will be provided. No charge. Art experience is not necessary. For more information: 549-5329.
The Treasure State Choralepresents a Holiday Concert Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Anthony Church, 217 Tremont St.
John Floridis presents his Peaceful Seasonbenefit concerts
Saturday, December 20 at the Crystal Theater, 515 S. Higgins, at 7:00 p.m., a Benefit for United Way of Missoula County; and Sunday, December 21 at First United Methodist Church, 300 E. Main St. at 4:00 p.m. as a Benefit for Family Promise. There is no admission fee for either concert, but financial contributions to the organizations benefitting from the performances is strongly encouraged
The International Wildlife Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2015 festival, happening in Missoula, Montana April 18-25 at the historic Roxy Theater. Now in its 38th year, the week-long event will feature new and exciting films, special guests, workshops, seminars, field trips, technology sessions, product demos, parties and dynamic networking events. With 6,000 annual attendees, IWFF engages Missoula’s progressive community with dozens of screenings and events like the WildWalk Parade. A filmmakers’ festival, IWFF focuses on films and filmmakers, and celebrates emerging artists and the future of wildlife & environmental media. Our expanded programming welcomes all films about the natural world, from environmental and conservation films, to issue driven explorations of earth and its inhabitants.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website
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Tom Bensen has lived in Missoula since 1986, and has been the executive director of the Missoula Cultural Council
since June 2004. He has directed First Night Missoula each New Year’s Eve since 1997. He is a member of Missoula’s choral ensemble Dolce Canto, and enjoys being outdoors, whether it is hiking, biking, skiing, walking the dogs, or mowing the lawn. His wife Susan works for Montana Public Radio, and their son Peter attends Hellgate High School.
