New events and public art displays enhance programming this summer
By Leslie Kilgore STAFF WRITER
A beloved tradition for all ages, synonymous with summertime in southwest Montana, Music in the Mountains draws hundreds of locals and visitors to Big Sky’s Town Center Park on Thursday nights for a free weekly concert series hosted by the Arts Council of Big Sky. While live music is certainly one of the arts council’s more widely familiar contributions in the region, this season, they are finding more reasons than ever to celebrate its successes and impact on the Big Sky community and beyond.
“As a collective group, we’ve done so much in the past year, and it’s only getting better,” said Jesine Munson, public art and outreach coordinator for the arts council. “We’re bringing in diverse programming, offering more cultural events, and making art accessible in every way possible for all community members.”
From new public art installations to Indigenous cooking classes, the art council’s summer offerings have evolved into a comprehensive spectrum of cultural enrichment for the Big Sky community.
One of the many aspects of its growing influence is the public art displays now seen throughout the community, including four new public art installations that will be unveiled this summer.
Supported and celebrated by Big Sky residents, donors and students, the sculpture “To the Skyland,” also known as “Wolfie” by Montana artist Brad Rude, is an art piece years in the making and will finally be installed this summer. The kinetic sculpture installed in the Town Center roundabout, “Gibbous” by Pedro Demovellan, will now feature a viewing bench and donor appreciation sign near the newly built Franklin building. Another bold and beloved sculpture in Big Sky since 2006, “Menhir” by Zak Zakovi is the 13-foot stone and steel sculpture that weighs over 2,000 pounds and is being reinstalled at the corner of Aspen Leaf and Simkins drives in a new spot that Munson describes as a “pocket park,” which will include benches, landscaping and views of Lone Mountain.
Along with plans for new public art displays, a mural titled “Big Sky Beings” is coming to the pedestrian underpass. Designed by local kids and residents and currently being painted this month by Montana native Stella Nall, the mural was inspired by imaginative questions like “What animals live here?” and, “What do they eat?”
“We sent out submissions through the schools and online asking people to dream up local creatures,” Munson said. “Now we’re bringing those visions to life on the walls of our community.”
Munsoin added that Nall began painting on July 7, and the public is encouraged to stop by and even volunteer to help her paint the community mural in the coming weeks.
“Families can help prime the wall, tape it off, and it’s a fun way to be part of something lasting,” Munson said. “Public art is one of the biggest things a mountain town can offer. It creates identity.”
With a growing full-time population and a more diverse community, the demand for year-round cultural opportunities has never been greater.
“There’s a constant conversation in Big Sky about cultural identity,” Munson explained. “What is Big Sky’s heritage? What stories do we want to tell? That’s something we’re committed to exploring through art.”
This summer, the arts council introduced several new events that have already drawn enthusiastic crowds. On July 9, a sold-out Indigenous cooking class will take place on the back patio of the new Big Sky Center for the Arts, offering guests a hands-on culinary experience while exploring Indigenous food systems with Mariah Gladstone, founder of the organization Idigikitchen and a leader in the Indigenous food sovereignty movement.
A member of the Piikuni (Blackfeet) and Tsalagi (Cherokee) Nations, Galdstone will guide participants in preparing a meal using ingredients native to North America. A ceramic bowl made from reclaimed clay by the art council’s studio team will also be included for each participant to take home.
“As we cook together, Mariah will be sharing insights into the connection between food, culture and health, and the influences of Indigenous food on the region,” Muson said. “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been asked for a cooking class, and now we have one, and with Indigenous representation. People are really responding to these experiences.”
Additional summer programming includes the Kate Houston photography exhibit now at BASE, featuring memorable images of abandoned public lands. On July 22, the arts council will host a State Lands Artist Talk and Panel at the new arts building, bringing together artists and representatives from Montana State Parks to discuss public lands, art and storytelling.
The Big Sky Artisan Festival, set for July 19 during PBR weekend, will feature more than 80 vendors, live music and a “Quick Finish” art session, where three artists will create works live from 2–4 p.m., followed by a silent auction.
“This is always a huge weekend in Big Sky, and the Artisan Festival is a great way to celebrate local creativity,” Munson said.
Building on last year’s success, the arts council is again hosting a full-scale Día de los Muertos celebration on Oct. 26. A street-wide party will feature mariachi music, dancing, traditional altars, food and vibrant decorations.
“We’re really trying to uplift our Spanish-speaking community,” Munson said. “Last year’s turnout was incredible. Seeing multi-generational families dancing together, it was one of the most beautiful and diverse events we’ve ever done.”
Following the celebration, the mariachi band will also lead an artist-in-residence program at Ophir Elementary School.
Inside the new Big Sky Center for the Arts, the arts council staff is not only managing logistics, fundraising, events and plans for the future, it’s also opening its doors during the weekly Wednesday night Farmers Market for open houses, merchandise sales and updates on building plans and beyond.
“The building becomes our booth,” Munson explained. “People can walk in, shop, ask questions and get inspired.”
New public art merchandise—like tote bags, T-shirts, tank tops and stickers featuring the “Big Sky Beings” characters—helps to raise funds that support more public art initiatives. The arts council hopes to raise $25,000 this summer through donations and merchandise sales.
“Last year, we raised funds for ‘Wolfie’ in under two hours at our Public Art Night at Music in the Mountains,” Munson recalled. “This year, we’ll do it again, and I’ll be speaking from the stage about our programs and future goals.”
Whether it’s introducing opera to new audiences, painting murals with kids, or creating spaces for cross-cultural celebrations, the arts council is proving that art and culture have a place in every aspect of life in Big Sky.
“I really think the arts council is spreading its wings in all parts of the community. We have an older population that loves classical music, but we also have programming for kids of all ages. And then we have six-year-olds to 92-year-olds in the clay studio.” Munson said. “We want to represent all members of the community and keep fundraising for a variety of programming to expand our reach even more as Big Sky continues to grow. Because I think, regardless, the one thing we can all agree on is that Big Sky really cares about its community and that can be celebrated through the arts.”
