The art of Bozeman

In my time of experiencing the culture of Bozeman, I have come to learn that it is much more vibrant than I first expected. It is a town of art, history and science. And while I have been experiencing much in my short time exploring this town as a writer, there are few events that I would say exemplify the culture of Bozeman more than the 2021 Bozeman Art Walks.

On the second Friday of every month, from July to September, there has been an art walk in Bozeman. In essence, the monthly Art Walk is when businesses stay open later than usual to feature openings and receptions for various artists. These businesses include, but are not limited to, the Bozeman Art Museum, Emerson Center for Arts & Culture, Gem Gallery, Steep Mountain Tea House and The Spice & Tea Exchange.

I suppose if I were to put it in one word, experiencing the Art Walk for myself was surprising. I didn’t have many expectations when I was walking over to Main Street, but the fact that so many businesses were taking part caught me off guard. At one point I even found myself in the Era Real Estate building, looking at a photography exhibit composed by photographer George Kalantez.

On top of that, I was pleasantly surprised when I first entered the Emerson building and learned that it was a space with multiple exhibitions to experience. While my original plan was to visit the Liminal Strangeness exhibit, created by MSU’s very own Jade Lowder, I wound up easily spending an hour of my time just walking around and exploring the building.

I think it’s safe to say that events like the Art Walk are extremely important for the culture of Bozeman. Not only is it a reason for people from all over town to visit local businesses, but it’s also a time where the local artists of Bozeman get a chance to show what they’re capable of.

Although the summer Art Walks are over for 2021, there will be one winter Art Walk on Friday, Dec. 10. If you’re an art enthusiast or just love taking part in the wonderful things Bozeman has to offer, don’t miss this opportunity to see some pretty cool local creations.