Archive for January, 2008
Originally uploaded by Chris Lombardi The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is coming to town next week. here’s a short primer for all of the filmmakers and filmwatchers who will be descending on the Garden City. HistoricalPeople interested in the historical buildings of Missoula should definitely check out the definitive list offered by The Missoula Downtown Association. It details 15 different buildings within walking distance of The Wilma Theater, as well as listing 20 other buildings close by. In addition, 4 distinct historical neighborhoods within walking distance of the theater are described, as well as a listing of another 4 neighborhoods, most within walking distance as well. Visit the Missoula Downtown Association [link]. If you’ve got access to wheels, you might be interested in Fort Missoula [link]. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula was established in 1975 to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of Missoula County, Fort Missoula, and the timber products industry in western Montana. Dining in Missoula
When you get to town, you can pick up a copy of The Missoula Independent [link] (found in red drop-boxes around town) for a more definitive listing of restaurants. I’m going to list a few here according to the specials they have on specific days, and then list a couple of other favorites.
On days when there is no special in which I’m interested, I find myself splitting a healthy serving of pasta with a friend over at Sean Kelly’s [link], grabbing a cheap burrito at Taco del Sol [link], walking south across the bridge for some great Italian at Mambo Italiano [link] or, if it’s between the hours of 5.15 and 6.15 p.m., catching a burger at 515 [link]. Breakfast? It’s The Shack [link], Dauphine’s [link], The Hob Nob [link] (great lunches, too!), or, if it’s a late night after the bars, breakfast at The Oxford [link], the oldest bar in Missoula. Drinking Establishments
Speaking of bars, Missoula has many of them. I’ll let you discover them on your own, but wanted to list a few of note here.
The locals discuss their favorite bars over here [link]. Brew PubsMissoula is home to three great brewpubs, each wonderful in its own right. Check ‘em all out: Music and DancingYeah, but where can I DANCE? Ah. Glad you asked. The venues for hearing music in Missoula are shrinking, but two of my favorites are The Badlander [link], which has been through many different incarnations in Missoula’s history, and The Union Club [link], a Union bar that has live music on the weekends. More local discussion of best music venues here [link] (YRMV) You’ll also find dancing at AmVets [link], with live DJs spinning the tunes.
If you’re into local music, while the venues to see music may be shrinking, the music scene here in Missoula is blowing up. Locals discuss their favorites here. [link]. Someone asked me about where to shop in Missoula, but I typically find myself at the Goodwill or some other hidden away thrift shop, so I’m no good at answering that one. This is most certainly not a definitive list, but meant to be a jumping off point. Any other locals want to weigh in and list some of their favorites? Tags: architecture, art, arts and culture in missoula, bigskydocumentaryfilmfestival, community, dining, drinking, economy, lists, missoula, montana, music, travel guide to montanaarchitecture, art, arts and culture in missoula, bigskydocumentaryfilmfestival, community, dining, drinking, economy, lists, missoula, montana, music, travel guide to montana
The below is via the Missoula Cultural Council.The Montana Museum of Art & Culture, in collaboration with the Missoula Art Museum and the Art Associates of Missoula, present Very Visual: Art Appreciation and Visual Literacy, taught by local art historian Ted Hughes.This noncredit course is open to the public and designed for adults. It is intended for both personal enrichment and to build on the talents and knowledge of current and potential docents at MMAC and MAM. No prior background in the arts is required and students do not need to be enrolled at UM to attend. Classes will meet in the University Center Room 326 at The University of Montana Tuesdays from 4 - 6pm on February 5, 12 and 19. The class will discuss the following topics:
Cost is $26 for those who register by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31 and $35 after. Zootown Arts presents the Pre-School Projekt January 30 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Rattlesnake School.Artist Anya Vasquez will be working with artists aged 3-5 years old. Artists will create, with the help of a loved one, a mixed media project by utilizing tools and materials at different stations set up in the art studio space. Fee $15.00 Rattlesnake School Art Room. Please call to register: 549-7555 First Friday Gallery Night occurs February 1 throughout Missoula. Among the many offerings:
The Missoula Art Museum presents its annual Benefit Art AuctionThe auction takes place at the Hilton Garden Inn February 2 at 5:00 p.m. Call 728-0447 for more details. Originally uploaded by love not fear The most recent issue of Missoula Living features four unknown Missoula artists (including me!) in a story about how we are making art and affecting our local community. Pick up your copy at drops around town. Thanks to Debby Florance for all of the hard work that went into writing the article. I haven’t seen it yet myself, but am looking forward to perusing it. Hello Missoula Living readers, and welcome. Have a look around the place, and be sure to check in to see what I’ve been up to lately. All artwork is available for sale. You can get prints in a variety of places, or you can contact me directly by email or by phone [406.203.4683] to arrange a private viewing. Donate and Support the Artist
Originally uploaded by love not fear Sweet. Just got the press release from the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival announcing the 2008 selections.There are 98 films this year from 40 countries. Already there are a handful of films I’ve heard about and I’m excited about. This year, a fun added addition to the festival is an interactive community site where users can create an account to keep track of the films they have seen, and rate/review the films. Awesome. Read the press release after the jump. Sign up at the community site here [link]. Read the reviews I wrote about the films I saw last year: [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [links]. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Announces 2008 Selections Event To Celebrate It’s 5th Anniversary With 98 Documentaries and 20,000 fans Official selections for the 2008 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival are now on-line at: the official Big Sky Documentary Films site [link]
Since 2004 the festival has grown into a premier international venue for exhibition of innovative, contemporary and classic non-fiction cinema. Screenings are held in the historic Wilma Theater in scenic downtown Missoula, Montana. BSDFF has built a reputation for its programming excellence and is the largest event of its kind in the American West. The event includes three competitions.
The 2008 jury includes distinguished filmmakers, industry professionals and academics. The jury members will present the awards at a reception and press conference on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. Competition films will be announced next week.
Each year BSDFF recognizes the work of important filmmakers by highlighting their contribution to documentary arts in the Big Sky Retrospective Series. The 2008 series will present the work of Hart Perry and Dana Heinz Perry. This distinguished filmmaking duo continues to make exciting new work today and will be two of this year’s BSDFF Judges. Their latest work, SEX: THE REVOLUTION, will have its World Premiere at Big Sky this year. Q & A sessions with filmmakers follow most screenings. This year over President’s Day Weekend, Big Sky offers three panel discussions that are free and open to the public. Passes are now available for sale on-line at the BSDFF site [link] and will also be sold at the box office at the Wilma Theatre during the week of the festival. For ticket prices, pass purchases and more information for this year’s festival visit http://www.bigskyfilmfest.org/ Sponsors of the 2008 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival include Bresnan Communications, HBO Documentary Films, Modern Digital, Montana Film Office, Indie Pix, Sony, B-Side Entertainment, Absolut Vodka, Panasonic, Current TV, Avid, Big Sky Brewing, Vanns and the International Documentary Challenge. 2008 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Official SelectionsFeatures: Shorts: Atlantis Unbound Perry Films Retrospective: Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - 2008 Official Selections The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is a program of the
Originally uploaded by love not fear The Original Gimp was over at my house the other night as I was completing another prototype. At his suggestion, I made one without wood, but instead used metal. His reasoning for the switch is that wood is too warm, but metal is cold, and the pieces seem to have a cold theme. I don’t think the theme is cold. Rational, yes. Clinical, maybe. While all loves are different, looking back with a clear and rational head into past relationships to learn what worked and what didn’t is a positive way to both honor what went before while building towards a successful and long-lasting relationship. The process lends itself to asking questions like, I wonder what she’s up to now? Asking the questions is fine, but making the call, dropping the email or doing a Google stalk is not and would probably be perceived as disruptive. I’m still trying to figure out how to apply all of these ideas to the actual finished artwork. I’ve figured out that I want to use metal as the background, and I think I also want to use wire to attach the glass to the metal, as showing in the new prototype. A problem that I tackled while making this prototype is how to attach the glass sandwiches to each other. I want the binding method to be transparent — no glue showing. I tried doing this by spreading the Superglue evenly across the glass, but it still dried somewhat opaquely. I know that Superglue makes a glue specifically for glass, so I need to go pick me up some of that. Todos
Get metal scraps Cut metal scraps Read new email and letters Oh, right. That reminds me. I found a new folder of letters and also figured out how to import all of my archived .mbox emails into a local mail client.
Originally uploaded by love not fear I finished the prototype last night. I’ve never approached making art in this way — making a prototype. Typically I go with first draft=final draft. But this series is important enough to play around a bit and figure out what works and what doesn’t. I’ll explore below what I’ve learned logistically during the process thus far. I generally like the way it turned out, but there are some obvious imperfections. I’m anxious to make another prototype to see how what I’ve learned from this one can be applied. Visually it looks good. I know I need to do a few things:
I’ll learn more about the process as I do it, I’m sure. A few questions I’m asking myself need to be worked out. The inclusion of paint comes from a suggestion that another artist gave me as I explained the idea to him, and I like the idea. I’m interested in what others have to say about how to execute this series. Please share any ideas in the comments. The Grudge - Tool |
