We Have a Winner!

Stephany Westhusin of Louisville, Colorado, is the winner in our "name the photograph" contest. Her suggested title, "Heaven on Earth," was chosen from almost 200 entries originating from at least five different states. Stephany wins a 28" x 9" limited-edition canvas print of the image that finally has a permanent name.

Many thanks to everyone who entered title suggestions. Remember to visit the gallery from time to time, as you never know what entertaining and enlightening treasures you might find. Our next "First Friday" event will be on August 2nd. See you there!

July Artist of the Month

Let's see if you can guess who the Artist-of-the-Month is for July, based on just a few hints. There are 12 artist members so you only get 11 guesses.

This shy fellow's personality began showing up early, and he was reprimanded in kindergarten for mooning his friends on the playground. While in high school he wore a cheerleader outfit in a skit before the entire student body, but he refused to wear blue jeans until after graduation because jeans were just too popular (he always aligns himself with the underdogs). He's got college credit in sailing and bowling, and he once refused to take a mid-term exam as a protest to get a biology professor to teach less rote memorization and more hands-on. It worked, the teacher later thanked him, and he was chosen as "Student of the Year" by the college president.

 

Think you know him?

He has been arrested once, for spearfishing without a license, getting hauled into the judge's chambers at midnight where he pled ignorance (the truth). He escaped with only a small fine due to a lack of fishy evidence. He hit the bull's eye on his first parachute jump, but landed further and further away on each successive jump, soon quitting when it got to be too far to walk back to the airport. This mysterious fellow checked off one of his many bucket list items early on when he flew his hang glider in a thermal above two Turkey Vultures. Camera in hand, he has swum with dolphins and sharks but is still waiting and hoping to meet a cooperative humpback whale.

Any ideas?

He is the only red-headed photographer who has held in his hands a California Condor, Common Loon and Harlequin Duck. At least, the only one he knows of. As a newspaper photographer he has experienced an adult panther leaping into his arms, been chased by a hammer-wielding train worker who apparently didn't want his picture taken, and he has chased after a number of hurricanes and tornadoes. He's photographed governors and presidents, NFL and college football games, beauty queens and the homeless. He once got food poisoning from pork chops served to the press during a Gator Bowl game between Florida and Iowa. He also managed to upset a number of newspaper readers who cancelled their subscriptions after he ran a photo essay on male strippers in the Sunday edition - in the heart of Florida's bible belt.

Give up yet?

This quiet fellow has given presentations on photography and biology to high school and college classes, bird biology lessons to a "superfluity of nuns," and a dazzling Harlequin Duck program to most every Audubon group in western Montana. His work has been published in magazines like American Photographer, American Biology Teacher and National Wildlife but, sadly, he has never seen his face on the cover of the Rolling Stone. He is still waiting to buy five copies for his mother.

If you think you know who the strange boring July Artist-of-the-Month is, then write his name on the back of a $20 bill and deliver it to the Paint Metal & Mud gallery, care of John Ashley. And if you make it to the gallery on Friday July 5th, during the artist's reception from 5-8pm, you can watch this person disappoint literally hundreds of kind people when he picks one winner for his name-the-photograph contest, at 7pm (information in previous post, below).

Name That Photograph!

What name comes to mind when you look at this photograph? Send it to us and you could win a limited-edition print!

John Ashley has a new photograph that's in need of a elegant title. What comes to mind when you look at this breathtaking image? Send your ideas our way via Facebook (click on the logo at right) or email (Ashley@BigSky.net) and you could win a limited-edition 28"x9" canvas print (retail value $155) signed by John! The first person to suggest the winning title claims the canvas print. To keep this manageable, please limit your entries to five per person.

John made the image from a mountain top at dawn last Sunday, after climbing up the prior evening. This view shows the Livingston Mountain Range and North Fork Valley, on the west side of Glacier National Park. At 7pm, John will announce the winner during his Artist's Reception (between 5-8pm) on July 5, 2013, at the Paint Metal & Mud Art Gallery during the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Kalispell.

Linda Sole - Artist of the Month

This Friday, June 8th, is the First Friday Artwalk in downtown Kalispell. And as always, refreshments will be served at the Paint Metal and Mud gallery and gift shop.

Our featured artist for June, Linda Sole, will be on hand from 5-7 p.m. to showcase some of her newest work, featuring unique jewelery pieces for spring and summer.


Mixed metal cuff (left) and silver flowers cuff by PM&M artist of the month, Linda Sole

NEW ARTIST! Please welcome oil painter, Raette Meredith

Join us in welcoming our newest artist, Raette Meredith, to the Paint Metal & Mud family. Raette recently moved to the valley with her husband, son and two daughters, and she's eager to get her palette knives and paints out into western Montana's bounty of beautiful landscapes. Stop by the gallery and say "hi" to Raette, and check out her beautiful paintings.


"I first found satisfaction with creating art when I was a young child. I don’t remember any time in my life when I wasn’t drawing or building something. As an adult, I find that painting with oils and a palette knife is the most challenging, and has held my attention longer than any other medium."

"When painting, time stops, I am completely focused on the subject I am painting. This focus keeps me grounded. Painting is not an option for me, it is something that I simply must do."      - Raette Meredith


"Aspens and Spring Grasses" by Raette Meredith (20"x16")

Featured Artist for May: Josh and Mary Inabnit of Montana Rock Creations

Known for their unique and functional rock works, Mary and Josh (and daughters too!) enjoy finding the best pieces of our Montana landscape to create their artworks.
 

 

Stop in to see their candle holders, freestanding lamps, business cards holders, salt and pepper shaker stands, doorbells and even custom door knobs to name a few!

Featured Artist: Lana O'Myer

Featured this month at Paint Metal & Mud is Lana O'Myer.  Her beautiful oil paintings hang in the main room of the gallery, but she is also well loved for her unique Tree Spirit sculptures.  

"I’ve always loved to create things and my usual artistic outlet is oil painting and clay.  I received my first set of oil paints around the age of 12 and was instantly in love.    It was 5^th grade art class where I had my first experience with clay sculpture and the potter’s wheel.  Through the years I’ve gained much knowledge in each medium.  I’ve taken several workshops,  but most of my art education has been self taught through my own trial and error.

I find it incredibly exciting and fulfilling to make something out of nothing.  To have a vision in your head and make it a reality is a wonderful experience. 

I’ve learned through the years that life is what you make of it--your own  personal  artistic creation.  Make your life a great work of art."


We hope you will come visit us during the month of April, so you can see Lana's work (and the work of all our other local artists) first hand.

Lucky Tree Spirit

Legend of the Tree Spirit

15th Century Europeans believed trees maintained good and the most powerful of all spirits. Before entering the forest, they would knock on the trees to wake up the sleeping spirit to protect them. This is where the saying, "knock on wood," originated from. Tree spirits have a great sense of humor, gentle wisdom, and will bring good luck to your home.

Each "Lucky Tree Spirit" is individually sculpted using 100% Montana stoneware clay. Each piece is bisque-fired in a kiln for 16 hours and then a final firing in an outdoor pit with a variety of organic materials. This gives each Tree Spirit it's unique, earthy colors and markings. No two pieces will ever be alike.

Lois Sturgis - March Artist of the Month

Watercolor artist Lois Sturgis is PM&M's artist of the month. Don't miss her reception this evening at the co-op gallery. You can also read about Lois here, in today's local newspaper.

 

 

Did you guess?

The answer to last week's trivia post is none other than our lovely Mary Inabnit! 

Mary (and her husband Josh) have been a great addition to our gallery family, and we're thrilled that the public has enjoyed their rock creations as much as we do!

The designs for their custom door handles and even doorbells never cease to make people in the gallery reach out and place their hands on the beautiful rocks used.

It isn't surprising that the rocks they use are beautiful--they come from our beautiful Flathead Valley, and Josh and Mary have their strict quality control department in their two amazing daughters who love helping picking out just the 'right' ones.

New Trivia Time!

We hope you've been enjoying getting to know more about our artists....here is another round.

Happy guessing!

Is a Certified Massage Therapist

 

Currently owns 3 dogs, 2 bunnies, and a cat, but their favorite childhood pet was a hedgehog.

Favorite bands include Fleetwood Mac, the Dixie Chicks, and the Lumineers.

Loves skiing and ice skating, also biking, hiking, swimming, camping... Pretty much anything outdoors.

Has been known to throw 'dance parties'  (which translates to acting silly around family and friends!)

 

So who do you think it is?  (hint...we'll give you 12 guesses)