Is Montana a good place for an artist? (Billings, Missoula: sales, home)

[pivatic1]

MY wife is a 28 yr old oil on canvas artist. She paints landscapes and classic automobiles and is just amazingly talented. Curious as to what she paints?
www.mensingfineart.com . My question is, are there good towns in MT for artists? We have been to Missoula and are curious about Bozeman, Helena, Livingston, the western part of MT. We will be going back to Missoula here shortly. I talk to everybody and their grandpa and most MT residents seem polite and educated. Me? I am a maintenance technician, a tech guy that would like to give up the fast paced "life" and maybe try some farming. We don't make a lot of money here in SC and I don't plan on making as much money in MT. But peace and quiet seems to exist in MT. Any input is helpful. Thanks in advance.

[ontheroad]

I have two artist friends in MT--one in Bozeman, and another in Whitefish. Both are married to financially established partners so it isn't a question of money, but from what I've gathered from conversations, they both feel somewhat isolated. Neither has an artist community, supplies are not readily available and distances to other art venues are often a challenge. I know that both have sold their work and are recognized in their medium online and at shows so on balance it probably works out.

However, all that aside, I believe both towns are beautiful, and exceedingly paint-able. Montana overall is paradise!

[MontanaGuy]

There's a few places in Montana that are geared towards the tourists and tend to have a few artists here and there but I agree with the last comment that there's really not a well known established area in Montana for artists. Unfortunately many of these artists communities tend to be very expensive to live in. I'm thinking of Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico and Sedona, Arizona as examples of towns with thriving art communities. Of course these places are also extremely competitive for artists and there's alot of them who want their work to be seen. Any of the towns I mentioned would be a fun place to live and it would be a great environment for an artist. Sedona is ridiculously expensive and Santa Fe has it's share of movie stars and celebrities who live there but it's not as pricey as Sedona. Taos is also a really cool little town. I saw Dennis Hopper at a restaurant there, it's one of those hip little communities. Anyway, it's a tough decision. If you want to be successful as an artist you need exposure and Montana is pretty isolated and it's a long drive to get anywhere. But check it out for yourself. Ruidoso, New Mexico is another good place that's actually reasonably priced and it also has a thriving art community. Good luck with your search.

[ontheroad]

I always hate to disagree with another poster's fine comments, but as an artist who just left Taos NM just a few weeks ago, I'd say it is a great place to sell your work but has no art community--unfortunately. And in fact, I started an artist community thread in US General Forum, if anyone would like to add comments, and check out the thread.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/gener...eck-woods.html

[MontanaGuy]

I always hate to disagree with another poster's fine comments, but as an artist who just left Taos NM just a few weeks ago, I'd say it is a great place to sell your work but has no art community--unfortunately.

I'm not an artist and was just there as a tourist a few times but that seems like a surprising thing to hear because of the history of that area and some of the fine artists who have lived there. I think you must be making a distinction between an area that is known as a commercial center for art dealers as opposed to a place that is supportive of the artists themselves in which they can interact with each other in creative ways to learn and perfect their skills and imaginations. I'd be interested if you could expand on your comments a little more and give a little insight into Taos as well as other cities that people associate with artists.

[grizzfan]

Let's see if I can put a little different spin on the answer to your question.

Missoula, Bozeman, and Livingston are very "artsey" communities. Missoula, as you have probably seen, has many galleries and a first-class, recently re-built Missoula Art Museum. My wife is a benefactor to that project and devotes countless hours to its betterment. There are world-class artists who live and create in Missoula and the surrounding communities: Rudi Autio and Monte Dolack come to mind. But there are many others who do a credible job with their art. My wife and I collect original Montana Artists, most you've probably never heard of but we like them: George Gogas, Laura Wathen, Walter Hook (deceased), Jim Dew, Marion Lavery, Tina Schwartzman, Bev Gluckert, Bob Phinney, Susan Quande, Douglas Baldwin and others.

Now, can you make a living in Montana, in your case, painting? Probably not. But if you locate near one of the touristy towns like Bozeman and Livingston your chances might increase. In any event you can send your art around to various galleries in the state and live in the place you like. Livingston has emerged on the retail art scene in the past couple of decades. The driving force was probably Russell Chatham and he has a studio there as well as I publishing company I believe. Billings has a very nice museum and a couple of nearby celebrities, Kevin Redstar and Ted Waddell come to mind, although my wife says he lives closer to Big Timber. And, of course, there is the Charlie Russell Museum in Great Falls and every March they have a huge western art show and auction there.

Compared to some of the place mentioned in other posts, live NM and AZ, Montana doesn't compare. But the scenery is better (IMHO!), the life a bit slower and the people nicer.

Good luck in your search.

[grizzfan]

There's a few places in Montana that are geared towards the tourists and tend to have a few artists here and there but I agree with the last comment that there's really not a well known established area in Montana for artists.

MontanaGuy admitted that he's not an artist and his comment sort of supports that admission!!

I forgot to mention the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena. It is a world-class ceramics studio, many studios and was founded over 60 years ago. Rudio Autio, David Shaner and two guys whose names I just can recall were all involved. Google Archie Bray and it will tell you more.

You might also contact the Montana Arts & Culture Magazine, PO Box 5621, Missoula, MT 59806 for more information. Their current issue (free) celebrates Native American Art, Ted Wddell and much more. Another resource is www.montanaculturaltreasures.com (broken link)

So rest assured that the art scene is alive and well in Montana and we all seem to be better for it.

[ontheroad]

What a wonderful question or questions! I think I expounded on the thread I posted here (above). You are totally correct is understanding the distinction I made between a "known commercial center" and a "supportive artist community."

I'll only take on Taos and only a little. I was fortunate to have friends, both artist and non-artist alike, but no "supportive community" existed until I formed one for myself. It was small, and focused on integrating both the visual and literary arts. The successful artists, those that sell, and the strugglers, are for the most part otherwise isolated--not solely by my observation but by their admission time and again when the subject came up (frequently). Taos' reputation as a mecca for artists resides in its past. The community of artists like Blumenschein, Sharp and Couse who formed the TSA (1915) were already connected by their lifestyle choices and their desire to sell their work; inasmuch as their group was reliant on outside sales which otherwise would not occur in the small northern NM area they favoured, an organization was imperative. (It's fascinating and a tribute to these artists that today most of their work sells upward of $30,000-$300,000 and a small Fechin drawing can fetch $5,000. Other artists, Marin, O'Keefe, the glory days of art sponsors like Mabel Dodge and others who came later piggy-backed on the TSA's successes and learned from their failures. By word of mouth, a community was born and built!

Nothing in recent years has provided the impetus for another Taos renaissance, and it drifts in a cloud of yesterday. It is a beautiful area, and will always attract those that love the light, the colour and the stillness of the mountains, but in these modern times, it's appeal is more surface than substance. I suspect it is an amalgamation of increased housing costs, over-population and change in societal values that make for a vacuum rather than a convivium--a true community of like-minded residents, artist and those who appreciate art.

Originally Posted by MontanaGuy

I'm not an artist and was just there as a tourist a few times but that seems like a surprising thing to hear because of the history of that area and some of the fine artists who have lived there. I think you must be making a distinction between an area that is known as a commercial center for art dealers as opposed to a place that is supportive of the artists themselves in which they can interact with each other in creative ways to learn and perfect their skills and imaginations. I'd be interested if you could expand on your comments a little more and give a little insight into Taos as well as other cities that people associate with artists.

[ontheroad]

Yes, no doubt about it, exciting opportunities exist, and thank you for bringing this community to the table!

Originally Posted by grizzfan

MontanaGuy admitted that he's not an artist and his comment sort of supports that admission!!

I forgot to mention the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena. It is a world-class ceramics studio, many studios and was founded over 60 years ago. Rudio Autio, David Shaner and two guys whose names I just can recall were all involved. Google Archie Bray and it will tell you more.

You might also contact the Montana Arts & Culture Magazine, PO Box 5621, Missoula, MT 59806 for more information. Their current issue (free) celebrates Native American Art, Ted Wddell and much more. Another resource is www.montanaculturaltreasures.com

So rest assured that the art scene is alive and well in Montana and we all seem to be better for it.

[citigirl]

Montana is expensive, you get a lot less home for the price and taxes are high. Every artist I have talked to said nothing sells around here unless it is western themed or artistic rustic made furniture. I have seen some great artist here and Livingston has many. I would strongly suggest moving to the larger cities. The small town gossip overwhelms many here.