Sculptor Patti Robinson-Grant's horse sculpture is one of many pieces of work that will be on display Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 at the Loon and Fish Festival.
SEELEY LAKE - The beauty of the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys is reflected and enhanced in the diverse artwork that is the heart of the annual Loon and Fish Art Show and Festival. This unique festival sponsored by Alpine Artisans returns Friday, Aug. 19 from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Foundation Building. The festival is free and everyone is welcome.
"This year's festival has many exceptional features," said Alpine Artisans' President Kris Gullikson. "The art sale includes the work of 30 local artists, and 10 of those artists are new to the festival, bringing stained glass, wooden sculpture, birdhouses, rock lamps, acrylic and watercolor painting and origami. There is live music both days, art demonstrations and the popular Loon Talk by Donna Love of the Montana Loon Society."
The Food Bank Soup Bowl sale has been replaced by a Huckleberry Ice Cream Bowl sale with ceramic bowls handmade by students at Seeley-Swan High School at $20 each. Children's ice cream cones will also be available for $5. Proceeds from the ice cream bowl sale all go to the AAI Youth Grant and Scholarship Program, which has awarded over $36,000 in grants over 16 years.
The Loon and Fish Raffle tickets will be sold until the Saturday 3:30 p.m. drawing. The raffle features a half-day snowmobile ride for two contributed by Rich Ranch, a stand-up paddleboard and a bear print by nationally recognized Ovando artist Diane Whitehead.
Artists returning to the festival after some absence are photographer Juan de Santa Anna, painter Judy Johnson, photographer Eric Kottman, origami artist Nancy Rittel and multi-media artists Patti Robinson-Grant and Charlie Grant. Robinson-Grant will be contributing her unique sculptures and jewelry and Grant offering his one-of-a-kind bird feeders.
New artists this year include rock lamp artist Peggy Shepherd, watercolorist Catherine Kellogg, acrylic and oil painter Brandy Green and painter Shellie Mundy. Creative expressions can be found in jewelry from Sue Baker, Jo Ogden and Angie Williams and in the wooden bowls from Swanwoods. Dona Aitken brings numerous wood creations and Patti Chamberlin's pine-needle weavings are exceptional. Kris Gullikson, Sharon Lamar, Sue Antonich and Bev Erickson will be showing numerous watercolor and oil paintings. Local ceramicists Carrie Darrah and Dodie Wood offer a wide range of practical and decorative pottery. John Mercer will be displaying two, seven-foot photographs featuring towering pines and Steve Ellis's photographs reflect his views of the Swan Valley. Swan Valley Copper artist Roger Watson offers a variety of exquisite copper bowls and Tammy Jordan will demonstrate and sell her wool products. Look for knitwear by Kristina Behnke and Donna Love's ever-popular children's books on elk, osprey, herons and Glacier Park.
The schedule below describes the festival events. On Saturday, in addition to the art show and demonstrations, there will be children's activities, booths from local wildlife and conservation organizations, an "Upscale Yard Sale" featuring vintage glassware, paintings, Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates, pottery, silver and a canoe and live music performed by area musicians.
Contact jenny@alpineartisans.org for more information.
2022 Loon & Fish Schedule
Friday, August 19:
5 – 9 p.m .: Festival Opens - Gala Reception & Art Sale featuring 30 Local Artists; Live Music by Harpist Janet Whitesell & Cellist Fern Glass Boyd; Marquetry and pyrographic texturing in woodworking art demonstration by Dona Aitken; Raffle and 2VS Season Ticket sales (2VS tickets discounted 20%); and Loon and Fish Commemorative and Kevin Red Star Poster Sales
Saturday, August 20
10 a.m .: Art Show and Sale featuring 30 Local Artists; Local Conservation and Wildlife Group Exhibits; Raffle Tickets, 2VS season tickets and poster sales; Upscale Yard Sale outside on the lawn
10-11 a.m .: Loon Talk with Donna Love, Montana Loon Society
11 a.m. - 12 p.m .: Live Music: Mixed Bag – Rachel and Pete Feigley
10 a.m. – 12 p.m .: "Loonie Origami" Children's Activities with Katy Bell and Pine Needle Weaving Art Demonstration with Patti Chamberlin
12 – 4 p.m .: Scholarship Ice Cream & Handmade Bowl Fundraiser
12 - 1 p.m .: Live Music: Tall Boys: Mark Williams and Trace Stone
12 – 2 p.m .: Ceramic Art Demonstration with Carrie Darrah and "Loonie Art" Children's Activity with Donna Love
12:30 – 3:30 p.m .: Wool Spinning and Weaving Art Demonstration with Tammy Jordan
1 - 2 p.m .: Live Music: Vic Picks – Victor Gross and Bill Lombardi
2 p.m .: Live Music: Keeping the Day Jobs – Marcos Arroyo and Rich Westin
3:30 p.m .: Scholarship Raffle Drawing – need not be present to win
5 p.m .: Festival Closes - Thank you everyone!
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