Go See the YAM’s Boundless Visions!

Where else are you going to see the works from an unbelievably talented rancher in Two Dot Montana (Dennis Voss) alongside premier painters of the American landscape such as Thomas Moran? That is what is so fun about the YAM.  “Boundless Visions” debuted last night with an enthusiastic crowd of all ages that was raving about the stunning new exhibition.

Opening with a traditional Crow Blessing from Heywood Bigday and ribbon cutting, the collection of artist’s work is the newest permanent exhibition telling the story of art in our region along with a rotating sampling of the Yellowstone Art Museum’s own fabulous permanent collections.

 

With many artists in attendance, great food and music, “Boundless Visions” proved to be more than just eye candy.  Hands-on interactive units and video/audio elements provided a multi-sensory learning environment and I loved the lighted messages on the floor that slowly changed with quotes from historical artists…”Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up”- Pablo Picasso. Whether it is a quirky collection of color and shapes or quickly drawn story, the exhibit completely amazes from floor to ceiling.

The Montana experience and visually rich landscapes have been bringing out the independent artistic spirit for years, creating one of the most prolific artistic environments in the country. The Montana Collection is the YAM’s defining collection, including nearly 2,000 works of art inspired by the realities of today’s West. Some of the many artists represented are Rudy Autio; John Buck; Deborah Butterfield; Freeman Butts; Russell Chatham; Robert, Gennie, and Josh DeWeese; Edith Freeman, Isabelle Johnson; Richard Notkin, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith; Bill Stockton; Peter Voulkos; Theodore Waddell; Jessie Wilber; and Patrick Zentz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also opening at the same time is the exhibit “Herb and Dorothy: Fifty Works for Fifty States.”  Herbert Vogel , a postman, and Dorothy Vogel, a reference librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, devoted Herbert’s salary to the acquisition of contemporary art, amassing what has been called one of the most important post-1960s art collections in the United States. The YAM was the lucky recipient of their 50 pieces for Montana. Mostly minimalist and conceptual art, “God gave Noah the rainbow sign: No More Water, The Fire Next Time”(1968), was a simple graphite and marker on paper work by Stephen Kaltenbach that was one of those pieces that just made me smile.

The Vogel’s show how art can inspire, connect and celebrate. My eclectic art collection-from just about everywhere- is very very small. Oddly enough, one of my favorite pieces is a humble jar from Frances Senska; grandmother of ceramics in Montana. How lucky we are to have so much talent here in Montana and that the YAM preserves it for us! Boundless Visions will have different selections from the permanent collection rotate regularly. Get out of the heat and go spend an afternoon at the YAM!
My favorite jar from Frances Senska, artist

 

---

blog comments powered by Disqus