HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-25 Correspondence - MT Arts Council - See Folk Arts At the Montana Folk FestivalFrom:Montana Arts CouncilTo:Bozeman Public CommentSubject:[EXTERNAL]See Folk Arts At the Montana Folk FestivalDate:Friday, July 11, 2025 8:31:38 AM
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July 10, 2025
See Folk Arts in Action at Butte's
Montana Folk Festival
The Montana Arts Council’s Folk and Traditional Arts Program is proud to continue its
collaboration with the Montana Folk Festival by presenting this year’s Folklife Area,
July 11–13 in Butte. Under the theme From the Heart and Hand: Celebrating the
Continuation of Montana’s Traditions, the Folklife Area will showcase the enduring
power of folk and traditional arts to connect generations through skill and cultural
expression.
This year, the Folklife Area will feature twelve demonstrating artists, with additional
performers, authors, and artists taking the stage throughout the weekend. Each artist
represents a unique tradition rooted in Montana’s diverse cultural landscape and was
selected for their exceptional skill, cultural knowledge, and commitment to passing on
their craft—whether through apprenticeships, workshops, or community education.
Their presence at the festival offers a rare opportunity for attendees to experience
these rich traditions up close and to meet the people who sustain them.
Traditional bearers and their folk practices represented in this year’s demonstration
area will include:
Rose Atkinson – Star Quilting
Eva Boyd – Basketry
Glenn Brackett – Bamboo Fly Rod Building
Frecker’s Saddlery – Custom Saddle Craft
Allison Grove – Weaving & Fiber Artistry
Nathan Kimpell – Blacksmithing
Linda King – Beading & Weaving
Mark Mariano – Hunting Decoy Carving
Dan Roberts – Lutherie (String Instrument Making)
Tim Ryan – Salish Tool Building
Dan & Julia Schwarz – Custom Boot Making
Olivia “Rose” Williamson – Crow Fashion Design & Beading
Further, this year’s Folklife Stage will include performances, demonstrations, and
discussions such as:
“Montana’s Indigenous Poet Laureates” featuring Chris La Tray, M.L. Smoker,
and Henry Real Bird
Arnold “Smoke” Elser and Eva-Maria Maggi, discussing Smoke’s memoir,
Hush of the Land: A Lifetime in the Bob Marshall
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“Place-Based Craft: Preserving the Last Best Place,” featuring Glenn Brackett,
Mark Mariano and Mary Sutherland, and Tim Ryan
Family drum group Little Mountain Cree
Local music groups, Left for Dead and The String Beings
And further demonstrations by participating artisans, Nathan Kimpell and Dan
Roberts
Finally, in a special development this year, the Family Area will be joining forces with
the Folklife Area to create an even more engaging and educational experience for all
ages. In addition to hands-on activities led by 4-H and face painting by Martin’s
Masks, several of the demonstrating artists will also host kid-friendly activities,
offering younger festival-goers a chance to explore traditional arts in an interactive
and meaningful way.
For more information, visit montanafolkfestival.com.
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