On Saturday, June 1st, the Moss Mansion welcomes you to the 35th annual SpringFest – a spectacular art and craft festival, all beautifully presented on the museum’s lawn. SpringFest delivers a day of shopping, live music, delicious food and fun activities for kids of all ages. Featuring over 50 juried artists and thousands of unique treasures, it’s the perfect place to shop, relax and connect with friends while enjoying one of Montana’s best historic places.
The day begins with a delicious pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Then from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. shoppers will delight as they explore works of art and fine crafts presented by the artists. This year’s festival features a wide variety of handmade art in mediums such as jewelry, photography, clothing/textiles, leather, wood, pottery/clay, paintings and prints, and more.
A selection of foods including tacos and burgers, plus beverages including mimosas, Bloody Marys, wine and locally brewed beer are on hand to fuel your day of shopping. And, for anyone with a sweet tooth, there’s kettle corn, homemade baked goods and ice cream!
Watch artists demonstrate their work or take in the sights and sounds of performers at three stages.
Little ones will also find fun things to do in the children’s area complete with games, face painting, sno-cones and cotton candy.
Admission to SpringFest is free! The Moss Mansion and Gift Shop, located at 914 Division St., Billings, MT, will be open for self-guided tours from 10am – 4pm at regular tour prices.
All proceeds from artist booth fees, donation jars and food and drink sales benefit Moss Mansion’s operations and ongoing preservation projects.
“Pink and Red Hollyhocks” Watercolor Painting Class
In this fun, low-pressure, one-time course you will learn how to paint a beautiful bunch of pink and red hollyhocks as well as some watercolor techniques.
Invite a friend and make a memory.😊
This course is for adults only. I offer children’s classes at other times, but this is not a children’s class. You must be 21 years old or older to attend.
It will take two two-hour classes to complete this artwork.
Cost: $67.00
Date: August 6 & 8, 2024
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Rock 31, 201 N. Broadway (at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Broadway, under the SkyPoint)
I provide all the supplies, so all you have to do is sign up for the class and join us Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 6:00pm. You don’t need to bring anything.
The class will be held at Rock31 in the Builder Room. Rock31 is located at the corner of 2nd and Broadway right under the SkyPoint in downtown Billings. The address is 201 N. Broadway (click here for directions). They have great security and the doors are locked on the weekend, so I will be meeting people at the door and letting them in until 1:00pm. Then I’ll shut the door and we’ll get started painting!
If you have questions about the class you can email Ceilon at artmaker@ceilon.com or call her at 406-578-8822.
Hope to see you in the class August 6, 2024 at 6:00pm. It will be fun! 😍
“Pink Magnolia” – Watercolor Painting Class
In this fun, low-pressure, one-time course you will learn how to use watercolor techniques to paint a beautiful pink magnolia.
Invite a friend and make a memory.😊
This course is for adults only. I offer children’s classes at other times, but this is not a children’s class. You must be 21 years old or older to attend.
It will take one three-hour class to complete this artwork.
Cost: $37.00
Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Rock 31, 201 N. Broadway (at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Broadway, under the SkyPoint)
I provide all the supplies, so all you have to do is sign up for the class and join us Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 6:00pm. You don’t need to bring anything.
The class will be held at Rock31 in the Builder Room. Rock31 is located at the corner of 2nd and Broadway right under the SkyPoint in downtown Billings. The address is 201 N. Broadway (click here for directions). They have great security and the doors are locked on the weekend, so I will be meeting people at the door and letting them in until 1:00pm. Then I’ll shut the door and we’ll get started painting!
If you have questions about the class you can email Ceilon at artmaker@ceilon.com or call her at 406-578-8822.
Hope to see you in the class on August 13th. It will be fun! 😍
“Mountain Lake” – Watercolor Painting Class
In this fun, low-pressure, one-time course you will learn how to paint a serene mountain lake using watercolor.
Invite a friend and make a memory.😊
This course is for adults only. I offer children’s classes at other times, but this is not a children’s class. You must be 21 years old or older to attend.
It will take two two-hour classes to complete this artwork.
Cost: $67.00
Date: Tuesday & Thursday, August 20 & 22, 2024
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Rock 31, 201 N. Broadway (at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Broadway, under the SkyPoint)
I provide all the supplies, so all you have to do is sign up for the class and join us Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 6:00pm. You don’t need to bring anything.
The class will be held at Rock31 in the Builder Room. Rock31 is located at the corner of 2nd and Broadway right under the SkyPoint in downtown Billings. The address is 201 N. Broadway (click here for directions). They have great security and the doors are locked on the weekend, so I will be meeting people at the door and letting them in until 1:00pm. Then I’ll shut the door and we’ll get started painting!
If you have questions about the class you can email Ceilon at artmaker@ceilon.com or call her at 406-578-8822.
Hope to see you in the classAugust 20th. It will be fun! 😍
“Determined Tulips” – Watercolor Painting Class w/alternative materials
In this fun, low-pressure, one-time course you will learn how to create a semi-abstract floral painting using alternative materials. We will use regular watercolor paint, but will be painting on a brown grocery sack and finishing up with colored pencils.This is a super fun project that teaches us that we can use whatever materials are at hand to make beautiful art
Invite a friend and make a memory.😊
This course is for adults only. I offer children’s classes at other times, but this is not a children’s class. You must be 21 years old or older to attend.
It will take one three-hour classto complete this artwork.
Cost: $37.00
Date: July 30, 2024
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Rock 31, 201 N. Broadway (at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Broadway, under the SkyPoint)
I provide all the supplies, so all you have to do is sign up for the class and join us Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 6:00pm. You don’t need to bring anything.
The class will be held at Rock31 in the Builder Room. Rock31 is located at the corner of 2nd and Broadway right under the SkyPoint in downtown Billings. The address is 201 N. Broadway (click here for directions). They have great security and the doors are locked on the weekend, so I will be meeting people at the door and letting them in until 1:00pm. Then I’ll shut the door and we’ll get started painting!
If you have questions about the class you can email Ceilon at artmaker@ceilon.com or call her at 406-578-8822.
Hope to see you in the class on July 30, 2024. It will be fun! 😍
Open Art Studio – Come make art with us!
Wednesday Open Studio nights are zero-pressure informal evenings where adults who need creative time can use some of my most basic supplies (paper, watercolor paint, pencils, glue, etc.), and make things. There is no direct instruction during this time–just people hanging out with each other and the art supplies, being social, and making stuff.
Attendees are welcome to bring some of their own favorite supplies to work with. You are also welcome to bring you own snacks and beverages.
I will have a weekly art prompt for those who need to prime the pump to get their creative juices flowing. However, no one is limited to working from that prompt. Everyone is free to do their own thing on Open Studio nights.
These are very informal evenings of art-making for people who need other people to hang out with. We create together and see where the muse takes us. This is play time! No talent or skill required. Just bring your good attitude and a spirit of generosity, curiosity, and follow your ideas wherever they take you.
When: Wednesday nights from 6:00-8:00pm (drop in and leave on your schedule)
Where: Rock31 in the Builder Room, 201 N. Broadway, Suite 406, Billings, Montana at the corner of 2nd and Broadway right under the SkyPoint in downtown Billings. They have great security and the doors are locked in the evenings, so I will be meeting people at the door and letting them in until 1:00pm. Then I’ll shut the door and we’ll get started painting! Because of this, you MUST sign up for the class ahead of time! Street parking is free in the evenings, and there is also a parking garage directly behind the Rock31 building on 2nd Avenue (not free, but affordable).
Who: Adults only (must be 21 or over to attend Wednesday Open Studio)
Cost: $10/person (includes my basic supplies, but you can also bring your own)
Open Art Studio – Come make art with us!
Wednesday Open Studio nights are zero-pressure informal evenings where adults who need creative time can use some of my most basic supplies (paper, watercolor paint, pencils, glue, etc.), and make things. There is no direct instruction during this time–just people hanging out with each other and the art supplies, being social, and making stuff.
Attendees are welcome to bring some of their own favorite supplies to work with. You are also welcome to bring you own snacks and beverages.
I will have a weekly art prompt for those who need to prime the pump to get their creative juices flowing. However, no one is limited to working from that prompt. Everyone is free to do their own thing on Open Studio nights.
These are very informal evenings of art-making for people who need other people to hang out with. We create together and see where the muse takes us. This is play time! No talent or skill required. Just bring your good attitude and a spirit of generosity, curiosity, and follow your ideas wherever they take you.
When: Wednesday nights from 6:00-8:00pm (drop in and leave on your schedule)
Where: Rock31 in the Builder Room, 201 N. Broadway, Suite 406, Billings, Montana at the corner of 2nd and Broadway right under the SkyPoint in downtown Billings. They have great security and the doors are locked in the evenings, so I will be meeting people at the door and letting them in until 1:00pm. Then I’ll shut the door and we’ll get started painting! Because of this, you MUST sign up for the class ahead of time! Street parking is free in the evenings, and there is also a parking garage directly behind the Rock31 building on 2nd Avenue (not free, but affordable).
Who: Adults only (must be 21 or over to attend Wednesday Open Studio)
Cost: $10/person (includes my basic supplies, but you can also bring your own)
Featured: Yellowstone Art Museum Receives Two Major Gifts Totaling $1.4 Million
The Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) has announced that the museum has received its single largest gift, from a private donor, in its sixty-year history. Deborah Anspach and John Hanson, longtime Billings residents, have gifted $1 million to the YAM’s Endowment Fund. Additionally, the Mary Alice Fortin Family Foundation, Inc. recently committed $400,000 to the ongoing care of the YAM’s historic building and in support of Education Outreach at the museum.
The generous gift from Deborah Anspach and John Hanson will financially support the position of the executive director and, in honor of the gift, the executive director’s position will now be named “The Deborah Anspach and John Hanson Executive Director of the Yellowstone Art Museum.” Jessica Kay Ruhle, the YAM Executive Director, said, “Deborah and John have been steadfast supporters of the arts for many years. They have donated countless hours of leadership and service to the museum and other civic organizations in town. They embody a spirit of warmth, good cheer, and generosity. We are honored and deeply grateful for their continued support of the museum, and their commitment to making Billings a vibrant place to live and work.”
“What the Yellowstone Art Museum does so well is to act as a collective memory for Billings and the surrounding region to help us better understand ourselves and preserve our various cultures. Art shapes and changes lives, in positive ways. Time and time again, we hear stories from so many people, about how art and art making saved their lives. Art matters.”
Deborah Anspach
Deborah Anspach is a retired attorney and YAM Trustee. John Hanson, a retired physician, shared, “It’s more fun to do this when you’re alive to see the gift in action.” Philanthropy and community involvement are driving factors in this couple’s philosophy.
“We hope our gift inspires others to give. Give what you are able. It all makes a difference.”
John Hanson
“It truly is an astounding gift,” said Precious McKenzie, Director of Advancement. “When they told us of their intentions, our executive team was, at first, speechless, awestruck. Then we were just absolutely moved to tears by their generosity. Words cannot express how grateful we are for this amazing gift. Deborah and John are inspiring. This gift makes a tremendous impact for the future of the museum.”
The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Inc. has a long and meaningful history of philanthropy in Billings and throughout the country. This significant contribution to the YAM is designated for the restoration of the building and to increase access to Education Outreach programs. Specifically, the support to education will help fund scholarships to the YAM’s summer camp programs and will provide resources to expand art education opportunities specifically for Indigenous community members.
These two are testaments to the growth the museum has recently experienced. In 2023, the museum was awarded a $240,000 grant from Art Bridges to break down barriers to access by making museum admission free for the next three years.
The Yellowstone Art Museum celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and will honor the museum’s history and future at programs throughout 2024.
Featured: The YAM presents The Montana Modernists: Shifting Perceptions
The Yellowstone Art Museum is proud to announce the opening of The Montana Modernists: Shifting Perceptions. The exhibition features ceramics, prints, drawings, paintings, and mixed-media work and will be up through June 11, 2023.
The YAM will host a reception and curator’s talk featuring Dr. Michele Corriel on Saturday, January 28 at 2:00 PM. The talk will be followed by a book signing.
The Montana Modernists follows the investigation of twentieth-century postwar Montana art in guest curator Dr. Michele Corriel’s new book Montana Modernists: Shifting Perspectives on Western Art. Examining the emergence of an avant-garde movement in the state, Dr. Corriel profiles the pioneers of this movement, Jessie Wilber, Frances Senska, Bill Stockton, Isabelle Johnson, Robert DeWeese, and Gennie DeWeese. Together, these artists implemented an aesthetic philosophy and a modern understanding of form, color, and abstraction that expanded the way Western art in Montana is defined.
Drawing primarily from the extensive collection of the Yellowstone Art Museum, the exhibition explores the first-generation modernists in Montana through the themes of Place, Artistic Lineage, and Community—all crucial elements in the lives and works of these artists. As the nascent movement grew and took hold across the state, it not only affected artmaking but allowed Montanans access to new ways of viewing themselves, society, and nature, and a way of seeing that had lasting effects on the struggle for a broader, more authentic Montana narrative.
This wave of postwar artists found the need to express themselves differently from the Western illustrative work permeating the state. Their experiences, their point of view, and the changing world they found themselves in required something more. As Robert DeWeese noted, “The art students in 1949 were a completely different lot. They’d been in the war worldwide, and they were hungry for all of it.” It is not a leap to suggest that so many veterans who had seen the world, the war, the dropping of the atomic bomb, the devastation of Europe, and the reckoning with fascism needed a new way to communicate.
Isabelle Johnson and Bill Stockton were native-born Montana ranchers, and Wilber, Senska, and the DeWeeses came from elsewhere to teach at Montana State in Bozeman. They were all missionaries of modernism who developed an authentic, personal style of expression in response to the land and society of contemporary Montana. Showing the works of all six of these artists together in one place demonstrates what these artists did and how in their interactions with one another, in their teaching, and, most of all, in the works they left behind, they created an art movement that still resonates today.
Michele Corriel researched these artists for years before writing her book, and this show reflects her deep consideration for each of them. “This project, culminating in a show at the Yellowstone Art Museum, validates the last five years of my academic life. I am thrilled to work with the YAM and to fulfill my personal promise to these amazing artists. I hope to keep their work in the eyes of the public for years to come.”
Corriel is a well-published art writer and has covered the region for the last 15 years. Her Ph.D. in American Art helped to guide her work through the rich history of Montana and to bring light to the largely untold story of modernism in the state. Her book Montana Modernists, published by Washington State University Press, will be available at the opening and for sale in the YAM store.
Exhibition sponsors include Charles M. Bair Family Trust, Linda Shelhamer & Stephen Haraden, Gordon McConnell and Betty Loos, and Dr. Ralph & Sheryl Costanzo
Featured: Yellowstone Art Museum celebrates with a new art action and gala event
The Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) prepares to host The Night, a black-tie gala and art auction, on Saturday, September 10. The Night is a reimagined fundraising event that aims to support the YAM’s educational programs and ongoing exhibitions. The gala and art auction will feature a unique in-gallery dining experience, live music, and exceptional art for auction.
The evening’s honoree, Sally McIntosh, was a former YAM Art Educator and owner of McIntosh Arts, a local art supply store, gallery, and community space. Sally’s dedication to art, students, and the YAM has inspired countless members of our community. Funds will be raised during the auction to support YAM art education programs in celebration of Sally’s commitment to the arts.
The art auction will be led by auctioneer Shawna Rudio, from Missoula, Montana. She will be joined by Billings arts enthusiasts Corby Skinner and Steve Corning. Art available for auction showcases Montana’s leading contemporary artists, many of whom can be found in the YAM’s permanent collection. A full listing of the twenty-three artists and online bidding opportunities are available through September 9 at www.artmuseum.org/Gala2022.
Additionally, an exhibition of the auction artworks can be seen at the YAM through Friday, September 9. YAM Director, Jessica Kay Ruhle, will lead free guided tours of the auction exhibition on Thursday, September 1 at 5:30 PM and Thursday, September 8 at 12:15 PM. Tours are free and all museum visitors are welcome.
Dinner at The Night will be catered by Bozeman-based Seasonal Montana led by chef Melissa Harrison. Harrison was a recent contestant on the television series Top Chef where she demonstrated her culinary talents. Seasonal Montana honors farm-to-table practices and spotlights locally sources ingredients. The dining experience will be hosted in the museum’s Montana Gallery, alongside the artwork of Michael Haykin. Billings-based artist Jane Waggoner Deschner’s latest exhibition, Remember me., will open early to gala attendees. Remember me. opens to the general public on Sunday, September 11.
Individual tickets to The Night are available through the museum’s website, www.artmuseum.org/gala2022, or by calling the YAM at 406-256-6804 during regular business hours. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, September 2.
