AAI Celebrates 25th and 15th Anniversaries

SEELEY LAKE – In September 1991, the Seeley Swan Pathfinder ran an article about a newly organized group in Seeley Lake that named itself Alpine Artisans. In January 2016, 25th Anniversary decorations festooned the hall at the Alpine Artisans, Inc. (AAI) Annual Meeting. Out-going President Kris Gullikson announced the theme for the year was "Remember When," a time to look back over 25 years.

Before introducing their organization in the Pathfinder, AAI founding members Jeanne Moon, Cindy Torok, Cathy Rapp, Jim Kyle and Marion and Charlie Burmeister spent almost a year formulating their goals and visions. The article announced the new organization was committed to preserving and promoting the arts in the Seeley-Swan area and they invited others to join with them. They wrote, "Alpine Artisans is not just for those with a desire to create; Alpine Artisans is for the enrichment of our entire community."

The article enumerated the ways in which AAI intended to promote the arts: community workshops on art-related topics, children's workshops "designed to stimulate young imaginations and develop life-long creative skills" and programs to help artisans market their work.

Buoyed by growing membership, the young group staged a Community Art Show at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. As reported in the AAI 20th Anniversary newsletter [spring/summer 2011], Torok referred to the event as the first Show-and-Tell because the emphasis was not on selling but on "demonstrating the array of artistic talent in the valleys."

In 1992, AAI presented its first art sales event, the Loon and Fish Festival. By 1994 Bob and Ruth Korn were AAI co-presidents and they spearheaded the drive for a fundraiser aimed at providing scholarships for local high school students. The AAI 20th Anniversary newsletter quotes Marion Burmeister as saying the early group wanted "a combination sale and social evening, something elegant," to be held close to Valentine's Day. The event was named Wine and Chocolate Social and for many years it and the Loon and Fish Festival became AAI's signature annual events.

Woven in and around these festivals were art workshops. Many were taught by AAI artisans who invited their fellow members to their homes or studios where they demonstrated skills such as painting, pottery, woodworking, calligraphy and basket making. AAI also arranged for outside professionals to teach sketching, painting or unusual arts like African bead work and Chinese ink painting. They also had Christmas parties, summer Show-n-Tell events and potluck socials, at least one of which involved "artistic" food presentations.

The organization did not forget its resolution to stimulate young imaginations. Artisans worked with children in and out of the school. Kyle showed the students how to make little wooden Christmas trees with a scroll saw. Torok introduced sculpture to the fifth and sixth-graders. Joy Clemens led a jewelry-making workshop and taught mask-making for Halloween. The Korns introduced the potter's wheel to students.

In the 1991 introductory newspaper article, the AAI founders had defined what they meant by the term arts: "The arts may include fine art, fine crafts, the various visual arts not usually included with fine art, and that broad category generally defined as the performing arts."

In 2001, during the organization's 10th anniversary, AAI focused on the performing arts. Bob Green along with Rolly and Peggy Meinholtz were the impetus behind what came to be called 2 Valleys Stage (2VS).

According to the 2VS 10th Anniversary issue of the AAI newsletter [fall/winter 2011], at 2VS's inception, "It was decided that the [Performing Arts] Series would consist of four or five events per season, each to include one community performance plus additional performances at Seeley Lake Elementary, Swan Valley School, and Seeley-Swan High School, along with age-appropriate workshops, lessons, discussions and/or play activities related to the particular performance art."

The 2VS founding group also stated their hope that performers could be fed and housed in local homes during their stays, not simply to save meal and lodging costs, but as a way of providing community members an opportunity for close contact with high caliber musicians and performers.

Backed by the support of the community and the area businesses and supplemented by grants, in its first 10 years 2VS brought pianists, woodwinds, vocalists, drummers, classical music, jazz, Celtic song and dance, Creole music, mimes, jugglers, dramatists and modern dancers to the community and the students in our local schools

Now, as AAI looks back from the vantage point of its 25th Anniversary and 2VS's 15th Anniversary, much has changed, especially because of the advent of the technological age. Paper newsletters informing AAI members about happenings and events have been replaced by timely email "blasts" and by the AAI website [alpineartisans.org] which contains information on past and upcoming events as well as an artists' gallery showing representative works and a listing of art calls and other opportunities for members.

The Loon and Fish Festival has been discontinued, but other events have been added. Tour of the Arts allows visitors to go to artisans' studios and workshops to chat with artists and watch them work. Introduced in 2015 was the literary festival "In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean." That event was so successful that it will become a biennial event.

AAI Community Outreach has grown considerably since 1991. In addition to 2VS performances, AAI also sponsors Open Book Club, Crown of the Continent Community Cinema, a changing display of member artwork at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center, and Snow Sculpture judging during Seeley Lake Winterfest.

Student outreach remains important to AAI. In addition to 2VS performances and workshops, AAI has offered special in-school art workshops. It also awards scholarships to students entering college with the intention of pursuing the arts and youth grants to young students taking summer courses related to the arts. AAI also arranges for school visits by the Montana Art Mobile, which brings a portable art gallery and introduces students to a variety of works by Montana artists. AAI also finances a trip to Missoula Art Museum, which puts on a special program each year for area fifth grade students.

Member enrichment is still high on AAI's list of activities. Partnering with Rich Ranch, AAI offers an annual Painting for a Dream Workshop. Doubling as a scholarship fundraiser, the event features a different notable artist each year. Classes on topics such as marketing, grant writing and negotiating the internet are conducted periodically as are field trips to museums and other art venues. More casual are Show-n-Tell events and Artist-to-Artist potlucks which afford members a chance to get to better know their fellow AAI members and share their passion for art.

In the 1991 article the AAI founding members presented their ultimate vision: "The talent necessary to establish the Seeley-Swan as a creative center in Montana is already here. Alpine Artisans is ready to develop and expand that talent until this valley is recognized as a significant arts and crafts community in Montana."

When Gullikson addressed the members at the 25th Anniversary meeting and reviewed AAI's accomplishments, she continually repeated the refrain, "We are doing this right." AAI has expanded its reach and continues to carry out its modern Vision Statement: "We, as Alpine Artisans, envision the quality of life of Seeley, Swan and Blackfoot Valley communities being significantly enriched and enhanced through the efforts and activities of our membership and staff."