Alpine Artisans, Incorporated

The Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys are home to many non-profits. All these non-profits play a vital role in our communities and most are run by volunteers. Over the next several months we will feature these various groups in an effort to highlight who they are, what they do and how to get involved. To nominate your favorite non-profit for the feature please email pathfinder@seeleylake.com or call 406-677-2022.

SEELEY LAKE – Alpine Artisans Incorporated (AAI) has been in the Seeley, Swan and Blackfoot Valleys since 1991. It was formed as a support organization for local artists and an avenue of cultural enrichment for the community. Continued growth and wider outreach has marked AAI's progress through the years, as it continually explored new avenues to fulfill its mission of promoting and preserving the arts in this region of western Montana.

AAI's early venture to connect local artists with the community was the Loon and Fish Festival. Valley residents and visitors were invited to admire and purchase the artists' wares. The festival became an annual event, continuing today. The type of member artwork has expanded to include paintings, photography, pottery, woodwork, beadwork, stained glass art, fiber art, basketry, cinematography, glass enamel work, multimedia art and handmade jewelry.

In addition to bringing artwork to the community, AAI's vision expanded to include inviting the community to visit the artists in their studios. Tour of the Arts, offered every year on the second weekend of October, has become one of the organization's most popular events.

AAI's definition of "the arts" also expanded over the years to encompass music and literature. The organization's performing arts program 2 Valleys Stage each year arranges for five or six acclaimed musician groups and other performers to bring entertainment to the community. Performers contract for a two or three-day residency which allows them time to go into our local elementary schools and high school to entertain but also to teach and conduct workshops with the students. Exposure to high-quality performing arts encourages students of all ages to aspire to achieve excellence in whatever they do.

In the literary arts, AAI sponsors the Open Book Club which brings Montanan and national authors such as Pete Fromm, Doug Chadwick, Jamie Ford, Chris La Tray, Roger Manning and others to discuss their latest books with interested members of the community. The Open Book Club won the 2020 Montana Center for the Book Prize for excellence in programming.

The organization also sponsors biennially the In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Festival. The event originated as a celebration of author Norman Maclean and his novella "A River Runs Through It," and the movie later made from it. In subsequent years the focus was extended to include other prominent writers of western literature. The upcoming 2022 Festival (June 24-26) broadens its scope even wider to embrace well-known leaders of the conservation movement and literary talents who shine their spotlight on the challenges surrounding wilderness, public lands and sacred grounds.

In addition to these prominent events, AAI periodically sponsors a local Talent Show, offers movie viewing through its Crown of the Continent Community Cinema, hosts art workshops, arranges art-related field trips and brings Art Mobile of Montana (AMM) into the local schools to show and discuss works of art with the students. The AMM visit often includes a small group art lesson by the artist-instructor.

Another way AAI fosters the arts is by providing $500 to $1,000 scholarships each year to local high school seniors who intend to pursue the arts in college. For younger students, AAI provides on-going grant support to youngsters needing financial assistance to attend art or music camps or other art-related opportunities. Students may also find an instructor among AAI's list of local artists interested in taking on students.

Speaking about AAI, former Montana Arts Council executive director Arni Fishbough said, "There is no other Montana arts organization that is as diverse in its programming as Alpine Artisans."

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend any AAI event although only member artists may show, sell and represent themselves at AAI art sale events. Anyone wishing to join AAI, interested in volunteer opportunities or in giving a donation can contact Jenny Rohrer or Kris Gullikson.

Current Board of Directors

President: Kris Gullikson

Vice President: Tom Browder 

President Emeritus: Carol Evans

Secretary: Janet Morgenstern

Treasurer: Michelle Breen

Contact Info

Program Coordinator/2VS Director: Jenny Rohrer

Phone: 406-754-0034

Email: jenny@alpineartisans.org

Website: https://www.alpineartisans.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 841, Seeley Lake, MT 59868