The start of my OpenAir Montana art residency

 

(Above:  Explore the Arts in Hamilton, Montana.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

It's hard to believe that I started this one-month art residency last week.  Time is just flying by! I'm here in Hamilton, Montana at Explore the Arts, a super cool art center on Main Street.  This opportunity came about through a selection process by Open Air Montana, a non-profit partnering with all sorts of other groups to bring writers, poets, visual artists, and even researchers to Montana. 

The building itself is a visual delight.  All sorts of sculptures and mosaics are featured outside along with sidewalk chalk drawings, and a beautiful garden.

Barbara Liss owns the building and runs the non-profit from her studio inside.  Her medium is concrete sculpting.

Her work is displayed inside but also on the building itself and even on several trees!  I love the masks best of all. 

I was given this area for my temporary studio space.  It's right off a larger gallery area.  I've got 24/7 access, good lighting, and a strong Internet connection!  I've met plenty of new people and even attended the local Writer's Circle meeting and a weekly "Open Studio" session that invites anyone to bring their own projects for conversation and time to work while talking to others.

This residency has provided a furnished apartment in this nearby house.  When I write "nearby" ... I mean it!  It's literally less than a block away!

 

This is the living room ... hung with original art!  There's a great quilt on the sofa too!

 

The kitchen is perfect!
 

I've adjusted to the new time zone and am sleeping soundly in this ideal bedroom.  Today I conducted a mini workshop:  Embellished wooden thread spool ornaments.  I'll blog that tomorrow and soon will also blog the work I've been doing independently during this residency!