YAM Triptych Magazine | Spring 2024

Artmuseum.org/about/triptych

ANNOUNCEMENTS 3 ART AUCTION 56 4 – 5

EXHIBITIONS 6 – 11

ACQUISITIONS 12– 13

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE 14

ELIZABETH STONE 15

MEMBERSHIP 16 – 17

ANSPACH & HANSON 18 – 19

SUMMERFAIR 20

YAM EVENTS 21

PROGRAMMING CALENDAR 22 – 23

ART EDUCATION 24 – 26

WRITING EVENTS 27

THANK YOU 30 – 31

From the Executive Director

Artmuseum.org/about/triptych

The Official Members’ Magazine of the YAM © Yellowstone Art Museum, 2024

All rights reserved.

Cover Art: Willem Volkersz, A Peaceable Kingdom (2017), wood, paint, found objects, 33.75 x 45 x 9 inches.

Our 60th Anniversary celebration at the YAM is in full swing!

Celebrations kicked off with the opening of the 56th Annual Art Auction Exhibition during the February Art Walk — more than 1,000 people visited the Museum that night to view the 160 pieces selected for this year’s Auction. I am thankful for all the sponsors, artists, and attendees who helped make this year’s Art Auction one of the best yet, and for the hard work of the staff and the Development Committee who came together to make it a success.

I hope you’ve visited the YAM galleries recently; if not, be sure to stop in to see the work of artists Will James, Will Wilson, and Willem Volkersz before these exhibitions close early this summer. Plan an additional visit later in the summer to tour the new exhibitions opening in June and July — learn more about them on pages 9 and 10.

SummerFair will once again take place at the MetraPark Expo Center. Join us rain or shine June 22 and 23 for activities, live performances, food and beverages, and artists’ booths featuring all manner of handmade arts and crafts! Free admission for all YAM members.

With summer arriving soon, our summer education programming kicks off in June with two weeks of Summer Art Academy at Rocky Mountain College, followed by two weeks of YAM Camp at the Museum in July. More information about all our upcoming education programs — including the Summer Art Studio — can be found on pages 25 and 25.

I am especially excited to announce the YAM’s newest membership options – the new structure features additional member perks like member-only tours, exhibition previews, and travel opportunities. Since admission became free, thanks to the Art Bridges grant, visitation has nearly tripled! I am thrilled that so many members of our community are making their way to the Museum; this makes continued and growing membership even more important. See all the new membership options and perks on pages 6 and 7.

Finally, I want to personally thank Deborah Anspach and John Hanson for their extraordinary support of the YAM Endowment Fund this year. They are an incredible example of how a community can be shaped by our most committed and generous neighbors. I am grateful for their leadership and unprecedented support of the YAM. Thank you, Deborah and John!

To all our members, thank you for your membership, and dedication to the arts! Cheers,

Jessica Kay Ruhle Executive Director

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

AmeriCorps VISTA

Ren Elias, AmeriCorps VISTA, is serving with the YAM to increase access to K–12 arts education. With experience in community organizing and nonprofit programming, she is excited to form connections with community partners, develop innovative marketing strategies, and identify funding and grant opportunities. In her free time, Ren enjoys caring for her houseplants, throwing pottery, and hiking with her dog. Welcome Ren!

3 rd Annual YAM Golf Tournament | June 14, 2024

The 3rd Annual YAM Golf Tournament will be held at Briarwood Country Club on Friday, June 14, 2024. Shotgun start with scramble format begins at 8:30 AM. Teams of 4 are $750, which includes breakfast, lunch, a tee sign, and prizes! Proceeds raised will support the YAM’s Building Initiative and YAM Education Programs. Help us make those much-needed repairs to the historic building so we can better house our exhibitions, permanent collection, and education programs. Learn more about YAM’s Golf Tournament on page 21.

Willem Volkersz: The View From Here

April 26 – July 7, 2024 // Montana Gallery

Sponsors: Riversage Inns, Deborah Anspach & John Hanson, Jon Lodge & Jane Waggoner Deschner, Gareld Krieg, Linda Snider, Gordon McConnell & Betty Loos, Larry & Ruth Martin

Montana-based artist Willem Volkersz (b. 1939) is a significant contemporary artist known for his neon and paint-by-number-style installations. He was a pioneer in the use of neon in art and developed early and sustaining loves for photography, travel, American roadside culture, Americana, and Folk and Visionary Art. Volkersz came to the United States from Holland in 1953, after the devastation of World War II, and brought with him a rich history that is reflected in his works of art. Volkersz has often said that he has an immigrant’s fascination with America, and as a teenager he began hitchhiking and driving throughout the American West, camera in hand. The artworks featured in The View from Here were produced over the past 25 years and draw upon the artist’s eight decades of life experience. They touch upon his early life in Holland under Nazi occupation, his immigration to America, and his current life in the Western United States. The artworks also suggest the ways these personal experiences and passions connect to wider social issues of enduring relevance for everyone.

Volkersz studied art and architecture at the University of Washington before earning an MFA in painting at Mills College in Oakland, CA. After teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute for 18 years, he went to Montana State University-Bozeman in 1986 to direct the School of Art and teach until his retirement in 2001. He is the recipient of many awards, including a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, grants from the Mellon Foundation and Gottlieb Foundation, and a 2020 Montana Governor’s Arts Award. He has been a visiting artist and lecturer at almost 100 institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China.

Organized by the Missoula Art Museum, Montana.

Members-Only Preview with Willem Volkersz

Friday, April 26 , 2024 // Reception at 4 PM followed by followed by tour with the artist.

Artist Talk with Willem Volkersz

Thursday, May 23, 2024 // Reception at 5 PM followed by Artist Talk at 5:30 PM European Immigrant Poetry – Stories from the War and Home, with Writer-in-Residence Anne Holub on The View From Here Thursday, June 20, 2024 // 6 PM

Willem Volkersz, A Boy Visits New York, 2007, Neon, wood, acrylic/ latex paint, found objects, 52 x 16 x 20 inches, Collection of artist.

Willem Volkersz, Before and After, 2021, Acrylic/latex paint on wood panels, 72 x 84 x 3.5 inches, Collection of artist.

Celebrating Complexities: Ucross Native American Fellowship Artists

June 21 – October 6, 2024 // Charles M. Bair Family Gallery & Northwest Projects Gallery

Sponsors: Deborah Anspach & John Hanson, Bess Lovec, Larry & Ruth Martin, Sherri Cornett & Steve Kriner, Jordan R. Hoyt, Gordon McConnell & Betty Loos, Molly & Brian Harrington

Celebrating Complexities will feature the work of four Ucross Native American Fellowship Artists: Gerald Clarke (Cahuilla Band of Indians), Savannah LeCornu (Tsimshian [Wolf Clan] – Haida – Athabascan – Nez Perce – First Nations Nisga’a), Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota Nation), and Cara Romero (Chemehuevi Indian Tribe).

The four artists in Celebrating Complexities work across different mediums including photography, sculpture, painting, and printmaking. They come from diverse backgrounds, geographies, and tribal affiliations, and are at different stages in their careers. But each artist explores and celebrates complex ideas in their work, looking at the specific to elucidate the universal. They emphasize their connections to their communities, their families, and their ancestors. They make work that communicates an Indigenous worldview that encompasses the past, the present, and the future. They are reclaiming materials and techniques, narratives and identities, and their work tells rich stories about people and cultures that are living, vital, and thriving.

Members-Only Preview

Thursday, June 20, 2024 // Reception at 4 PM followed by followed by tour with artists or staff.

Opening Reception

Friday, July 11, 2024 // 5 – 7 PM

Cara Romero (Chemehuevi Indian Tribe), Peshawn, 2022, Limited edition archival fine art, photograph. 40 x 45 inches.

Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota Nation), Enduring, 2023, Paper, deer lace, porcupine quills, medicine ash, 70 x 156 x 156 inches, On loan from TiA Collection

Mark Earnhart & Jodi Lightner: Suspended Intervals

August 2, 2024 – January 5, 2025 // Montana Gallery

Sponsors: Riversage Inns, Deborah Anspach & John Hanson, Jon Lodge & Jane Waggoner Deschner, Bess Lovec, Gareld Krieg, Sherri Cornett & Steve Kriner, John Kennedy

Suspended Intervals investigates the possibility of pausing our collective expectation in exchange for the permission of individual experience. This experience is found in the cadence of rationalization, the rhythm of individual response, and the persuasion of belief which complicates the unconscious drive towards collectivity. Individuality requires nurturing, practice, and patience. Intervals are the variations between the internalized experience and the cooperative external, the patterns of recognition, sequences of behavior, and the interruptions of our perspective. This means go in with an open mind. Take part, be present, and pause in consideration of the possibilities. Suspended Intervals is an installation of sculpture and large-scale drawings that express the individual pursuit of stability and certainty. This exhibition is a true collaboration of Mark Earnhart and Jodi Lightner. Though the works will be created separately, and the ideas interpreted individually, they will be cohesive throughout the exhibition and address ideas of the mechanics of structural elements as well as the social glue that keeps communities working and moving together. The installation will take cues from the architecture to allow a conversation between drawings and sculptures with the intent to change the perception of the space for the viewer.

Members-Only Preview with Jodi Lightner and Mark Earnhart

Thursday, August 1, 2024 // Reception at 4 PM followed by followed by tour with artists or staff.

Artist Talk with Jodi Lightner

Thursday, September 12, 2024 // Reception at 5 PM followed by Artist Talk at 5:30 PM

Artist Talk with Mark Earnhart

Thursday, October 10, 2024 // Reception at 5 PM followed by Artist Talk at 5:30 PM

Mark Earnhart, Mitigation, 2013, Lead, steel, plywood, rope, hardware, duffel bags, sand, 14 x 3 x 12 feet, Courtesy of artist.

Jodi Lightner, Gathered, 2015, Acrylic and ink on mylar, 7 drawings, 14 x 3 feet (Installation views vary), Courtesy of artist.

IN CONVERSATION: WILL WILSON

February 16 – June 2 , 2024 // Charles M. Bair Family Gallery & Northwest Projects Gallery

Sponsors: Art Bridges, Humanities Montana, Susan Sullivan & Steve Zabawa, Bess Lovec, Bev Ross, Sharon Shannon

In Conversation: Will Wilson features a selection of works from Diné (Navajo) photographer Will Wilson’s ongoing Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange (CIPX) project in dialogue with photographs by Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868–1952). The exhibition will tour as an Art Bridges exhibition beginning in Winter 2021, having originally premiered at Crystal Bridges of American Art in 2018.

Wilson explores the relationship of science, identity, agency, and representation in photography while also considering the lasting legacy of historical photographs on the representation of Native peoples in North America. Wilson responds directly to the work of Curtis, who is best known for his 20-volume The North American Indian (1907–1930), which was created as a way to capture the supposed vanishing race of Native Americans while also helping to shape public perception of Native peoples. Wilson’s ongoing Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange (CIPX) directly addresses these misconceptions through his use of historical photographic techniques and emphasis on a reciprocal relationship with the sitters, which allows for agency over all aspects of their presentation. Wilson pushes the CIPX project even further with the inclusion of “Talking Tintypes,” which uses AR technology in a convenient app to bring photographs to life. In Conversation is a contemporary exploration of the science of photography but also a response to the historical impact and importance of (self-) representation.

In Conversation: Will Wilson features 16 works by Curtis and 17 works by Wilson. The Wilson photographs range from 50 x 40 inches to 20 x 17 inches and include 5 Talking Tintypes.

In Conversation: Will Wilson is organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Artist Talk with Will Wilson

Thursday, May 9, 2024 // Reception at 5 PM followed by Artist Talk at 5:30 PM

Gallery Conversation with Professor Tim McCleary (LBHC) on Apsáalooke Language

Thursday, May 16, 2024 // Reception at 5 PM followed by Gallery Conversation at 5:30 PM

Adult Art Class: Tintypes with Todd Forsgren

Saturday, May 25, 2024 // 10 AM – 4 PM

The Importance of Representation and Storytelling in Native American Poetry, with Writer-in-Residence Anne Holub and M.L. Smoker

Saturday, June 1, 2024 // 1 – 2 PM

Support provided by Art Bridges

Will Wilson (b. 1969), Nakotah LaRance, Citizen of the Hopi Nation, 6-Time World Champion Hoop Dancer, Member, Dancing Earth, Indigenous Contemporary Dance Creations, 2012, printed 2018. Archival pigment print from wet-plate collodion scan, 24 ¾ x 20 ¾ in. Art Bridges. Photography by Brad Flowers.

Will Wilson (b. 1969), Raven Knight, Citizen of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, Dancer, Dancing Earth, Indigenous Contemporary Dance Creations, 2013, printed 2018, printed 2018. Archival pigment print from wet-plate collodion scan, 24.75 x 20.75 inches, Art Bridges. Photography by Brad Flowers.

A

COUPLE OF ART LOVERS, Part II: The Generosity of Miriam Sample

November 16, 2023 – August 18, 2024 // Mildred Sandall Scott Galleries

Sponsors: James & Christine Scott, Linda Shelhamer & Stephen Haraden, Diane Boyer Jerhoff, Patricia & John Burg, Lornel Baker, Bess Lovec, Gareld Krieg, Kim & Don Olsen, Gordon McConnell & Betty Loos

On March 15, 2024, the museum re-opened the second exhibition of a two- part celebration honoring artwork gifted to the Yellowstone Art Museum by Joe and Miriam Sample.

With a shared enthusiasm for art and civic-minded engagement, the husband and wife duo was unstoppable. One might imagine they had a pact to divide and conquer — Miriam, a supporter of the symphony and theater among other non-profit organizations, also served on the Montana Arts Council and Board of the Yellowstone Art Museum. Joe, a legend in Montana’s media landscape and a jazz aficionado, shared his passion for the arts through his long-running program on Yellowstone Public Radio, Spreadin’ Rhythm Around, and was also an avid art collector.

For over sixty years, Miriam and Joe bestowed the Yellowstone Art Museum with their philanthropic spirit and love for the arts. Beginning in 1984 with the acquisition of a vase by Rudy Autio, Miriam continued to gift funds to the museum to purchase artworks from Montana’s leading artists. At the time of her death in 2009, two hundred and forty works had been purchased for the collection. Along with grants from the Montana Cultural Trust, the core of the museum’s collection was formed — one which guides our collecting criteria to this day.

Gallery Conversation with Gilles Stockton & Lisa Ranallo on the artist Bill Stockton Thursday, August 15, 2024 // Reception at 5 PM followed by Artist Talk at 5:30 PM

Chuck Forsman, Zimmerman Trail, 1983, Oil on Masonite, 70 x 45 inches, Museum purchase funded by Miriam Sample.

Bill Stockton, All That Is Left of Bill Stockton, 1984, Livestock marker and graphite on paper, 24.5 x 30.5 inches, Museum purchase funded by Miriam Sample.

Tip Toland, Broken Heart, 1998. Ceramic, 15 x 6 x 6 in. Gift of Yellowstone Art Museum Associates.

Will James in Magazines

June 2023 – June 2024 // Earl E. Snook Gallery Family Gallery

Sponsors: Karen Ferguson, The Foundation for Montana History

Will James, a French Canadian born as Joseph Ernest Nephtali Dufault, always dreamed of being a cowboy. James was indoctrinated into the world of ranching at a young age and eventually worked as a hand for cattle outfits in Montana, Idaho, and Nevada. However, several injuries and an Army draft into World War I rerouted the cowboy’s career from one who handled horses into one who observed and recorded them instead.

Cows, horses, and bears were just some of the subjects that James portrayed in his drawings and writings, ones which told of the raw and exhilarating force of nature in the West. The artist’s ability to realistically capture these rare moments gained him a successful career in illustrating images for various Western magazines. His work was featured in several venues, from the cheapest pulp magazine to premier titles like Sunset Magazine and The Saturday Evening Post.

Meanwhile, James practiced storytelling of his own, beginning with his 1920 series “Keno the Cow-Horse,” a forerunner to the chronicling of Smoky. Previews of his books appeared in magazine serial form, and many were later published as full books into the collections from Charles Scribner’s Sons. As he began to concentrate on his novels, less and less appeared in short form, ending this phase of his career in 1935. However, these depictions still provide modern viewers with a unique look at the cowboy and the rancher’s West.

Artist: Will James Author: Unknown Date: 1931 Medium: Paper (Magazine)

Keno The Cow Horse

James

2024 Recent Acquisitions

The Yellowstone Art Museum is continuously growing the permanent collection through generous gifts and museum purchases. All acquisitions build the museum’s collection of modern and contemporary art from the Mountain West region.

Kristen Cliffel

Kristen Cliffel is a ceramic artist based in Ohio with family in Montana. Her work is an investigation of “domestic mythologies” and seeks to explore how life measures up against our “storybook” expectations of happiness and fulfillment. The YAM has been honored to display pieces of Cliffel’s in the YAM’s 56th Annual Art Auction and as part of the 2021 exhibition Companion Species.

Kristen Cliffel, Transactional Expectations, 2020, Low fire clay, glaze, gold luster, handcarved polychromed wood, 23 x 20 x 20 inches.

Catherine Courtenaye

The YAM has gladly accepted an oil painting on canvas titled Crossbent from Bozemanbased artist Catherine Courtenaye’s most recent series, Avian Witness. This painting becomes the second work by Courtenaye in the YAM Permanent Collection and speaks to the artist’s ongoing response to the growing divide between the natural world and manmade environment.

Catherine Courtenaye, Crossbent, 2018, Oil on canvas, 80 x 80 inches.

Roger Shimomura

The YAM welcomed a full portfolio suite of six lithographs by Japanese American artist Roger Shimomura into the Permanent Collection. Titled Minidoka Snapshots, these lithographs refer to one of the ten US internment camps in which 120,000 Japanese and American citizens of Japanese descent were incarcerated from 1942–1945: the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Hunt, Idaho.

Roger Shimomura, Minidoka Snapshots: Nightfall, 2010, Lithograph, 9.875 x 10.75 inches.

Roger Shimomura, Minidoka Snapshots: Block 6, 2010, Lithograph, 9.875 x 10.75 inches. Roger Shimomura, Minidoka Snapshots: The Game, 2010, Lithograph, 9.875 x 10.75 inches.

Roger Shimomura, Minidoka Snapshots: Reveille, 2010, Lithograph, 9.875 x 10.75 inches.

The YAM is honored to accept eight works by Blackfeet artist Jeneese Hilton into the Permanent Collection. Hilton’s experience growing up in eastern Montana and traveling the globe has led to an artistic contemplation on various belief systems and their social and environmental consequences. Hilton’s work has been exhibited widely at several notable institutions throughout the region, such as the Missoula Art Museum, Plains Art Museum, and Holter Museum of Art.

Jeneese Hilton, Luck of the Draw, 1999, Mixed media on canvas, 40.75 x 52.5 inches.

Jeneese Hilton, Dabbler, 2011, Mixed media on canvas, 41.25 x 49.75 inches.

Jeneese Hilton

Kevin Harris

January 1 – June 7, 2024

Kevin Harris has studied portraiture and the human figure at and through the Watts Atelier, located in Encinitas, California, for the past four years. Prior to his studies at Watts Atelier, Harris served in the United States Army for 10 years, including two deployments to Afghanistan. Harris is a 2003 Billings Senior High graduate and a 2007 West Point graduate. Prior to his service, he was exposed to and pursued art from a young age through a program called the “Young Artist Studio.”

Anne Holub

January 1, 2024 – January 1, 2025

Anne Holub received a MFA from the University of Montana and a creative writing MA from Hollins University. Her poetry has been featured on Chicago Public Radio, Yellowstone Public Radio, and in The Clackamas Poetry Journal, The Great Lakes Review, The Mississippi Review, The Asheville Poetry Review, and Phoebe, among other publications. She has two poems published in the anthology Bright Bones: Contemporary Montana Writing, (Open Country Press 2018). Her chapbook, 27 Threats to Everyday Life, (Finishing Line Press 2023) was a semi- finalist in the press’ New Women’s Voices Competition. Originally from Virginia, and after more than a decade in Chicago, she now lives and writes in Billings, Montana, with her husband, Dan, their two dogs Merle and Rosie, and a sourdough starter named Rhonda.

Learn more about events with Anne Holub on page 27.

Krista Leigh Pasini

July 1, 2024 – January 5, 2025

Krista Leigh Pasini describes herself as an interdisciplinary performance artist, art doula, and public art facilitator.

Krista is an interdisciplinary performance artist, trauma informed somatic guide, art doula, critical thinker, and creative events/new genre public art facilitator. Through her audio/ sound work, poetry/spoken word, dance/movement, and improvisational Fluxus-inspired events, Krista explores ethical engagement, leadership, social dynamics, trauma resilience and the recovery of joy. Her work includes somatic and movement inquiry; contemplative performance-based engagement in relation to place, public and community; and social actions grounded in healing and wellness.

Throughout her Residency in the Gary and Melissa Oakland Studio in the Visible Vault, Krista will be exploring several projects in various modes, from performative post-modern memoirs to social sculpture installations. Her work is inspired by the life experiences and ultimate death of her father, who battled with a progressive neurological brain disease and maintained a tedious journaling system to cope with memory loss. Krista hopes to, through her work, explore an environment where her father’s story is an invitation to connect, play, witness, and cultivate a culture of remembering, letting go, and honoring the common bonds that we share as individuals, as families, as communities, as a humanity amid partial wholeness. The final installation exhibit will finish with a series of public performances January 2–5 featuring an ensemble cast of creative souls.

Krista is co-founder of Rain Soul Studio, a bespoke wellness studio located in downtown Billings where she serves as a certified holistic bodymind coach, creative mindset mentor, and comprehensive yoga nidra guide. Among her continued education credentials, Krista is an honors scholar with a BFA in History from Montana State University — Billings and holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College.

I Remember Project

Commissioned artwork by Elizabeth Stone

Sponsors: First Interstate Bank, Jon Lodge & Jane Waggoner Deschner, Sherri Cornett & Steve Kriner

In celebration of the museum’s 60th anniversary, the YAM is pleased to work with Montana artist Elizabeth Stone on a commissioned artwork that honors the region’s public and personal histories.

Elizabeth Stone describes her artistic practice as an “[exploration of] potent themes of memory, time, and materials deeply rooted within the ambiguity of the photographic medium.”

With an emphasis on collaboration and community engagement, Stone welcomes participants of all ages and backgrounds to contribute photographic slides and negatives that will become her final work. Donations can be made at the YAM, or at one of several drop-off locations around Billings.

Community members are also invited to attend an organized “sewing bee” to assist in the production of the piece. The YAM, along with other partner organizations, will host public sewing sessions with the artist throughout Summer 2024. The final artwork will be installed at the museum in October 2024. Visit the YAM website for more information on drop offs and upcoming group sewing events.

First Friday with Elizabeth Stone Friday, May 3, 2024 // 5 – 7 PM

New Membership Benefits

With free admission at the Yellowstone Art Museum, your membership donation is more important than ever. Your YAM membership includes a tax-deductible donation to our ongoing operational expenses, education programs, and the stewardship of our permanent collection. In appreciation for your membership, we offer the following benefits:

Student | $10

*No Tax Deduction

 Free admission to SummerFair

 Invitations to Members-Only Preview Events

 Member discounts on all education classes

 Subscription to our e-newsletter & e-blasts

 Digital subscription to Triptych, Member’s Magazine

Young Professionals | $200

*$100 Tax Deduction

 All the student benefits listed, plus:

 10% discount in the YAM store and Raven’s Cafe d’Art

 A “Thank you” in Triptych, Member’s Magazine

 Buy one Masquerade ticket and receive an additional complimentary ticket

 Invitations to Young Professionals creative networking opportunities

 NARM & ROAM (free admission to over 1,500 museums across North America)

 Subscription to Triptych, Member’s Magazine

 Two free drinks per household at the YAM Bar

Gallery Friends & Family | $65

*No Tax Deduction

 Free admission to SummerFair

 Invitations to Members-Only Preview Events

 Member discounts on all education classes

 Subscription to Triptych, Member’s Magazine

Benefactor | $125

*$25 Tax Deduction

 All the Gallery Friends & Family benefits listed, plus:

 10% discount in the YAM store and Raven's Cafe d'Art

 A "Thank you" in Triptych, Member’s Magazine

 NARM & ROAM (free admission to over 1,500 museums across North America)

Curator’s Circle |

$500

*$400 Tax Deduction

 All the Benefactor benefits listed, plus:

 10% discount on facility rentals

 A group luncheon with a collection artist or artist-inresidence & YAM staff

 A shareable Family Pass to SummerFair

 Early access to YAM programs, such as Summer Art Academy registration, Masquerade, and Art Auction ticket sales

Donor’s Circle |

$1,000

*$900 Tax Deduction

 All Curator’s Circle benefits listed, plus:

 Invitations to Donor’s Circle events, such as visits to artist studios & regional exhibitions

Director’s Circle |

$2,500

*$2,400 Tax Deduction

 All the Donor’s Circle benefits listed, plus:

 25% discount on facility rentals

 10% of membership dues may go to the Endowment Fund as a donation

 A private tour and a look behind-the-scenes for your group (up to 10)

 Complimentary drinks at the YAM Bar

 Director’s Circle invitations to regional and national travel opportunities

 Two complimentary tickets to Masquerade

Lifetime Legacy

 All benefits previously listed:

The Lifetime Legacy Society honors and acknowledges donors who have gifted a total of $250,000 in lifetime gifts or have remembered the Yellowstone Art Museum in 10% of their estate plans. Lifetime Legacy Society members are the Museum’s most distinguished benefactors.

The Yellowstone Art Museum is deeply grateful for The Lifetime Legacy Society Members’ meaningful commitments to YAM and its mission to exhibit, interpret, collect, and preserve art for the enrichment, education, inspiration, and enjoyment of all.

To discuss joining the Lifetime Legacy Society, please reach out to development@artmuseum.org.

Member Previews (Open to all YAM Members)

June 20, 4 – 6 PM | Celebrating Complexities: Ucross Native American Fellowship Artists

 Light appetizers and tour with staff.

August 1, 4 – 6 PM | Mark Earnhart & Jodi Lightner: Suspended Intervals

 Light appetizers and tour with artists or staff.

Circle Studio Visits

(for Donor’s Circle, Director’s Circle, & Lifetime Legacy Members)

June 11, 11 AM – 1 PM, Open-house | Jodi Lightner’s Studio, Downtown Billings

 Beverages and light appetizers, RSVP necessary.

 To RSVP by June 6, please contact Katie Bales, Membership Coordinator, at membership@artmuseum.org.

Travel Opportunity

(for Donor’s Circle, Director’s Circle, & Lifetime Legacy Members) September 20 | Charles M. Bair Family Museum, Martinsdale, MT

 Picnic lunch and transportation included

 $40 per person

 To RSVP by September 13, please contact Katie Bales, Membership Coordinator, at membership@artmuseum.org.

Membership Updates

 Annulment of the $300 Collector Membership

 The $500 Contributor membership has been renamed Curator’s Circle

 Addition of the Young Professionals Membership

 Museum Circle and President’s Circle have been combined into a new membership level, titled Director’s Circle. This new level will be offered at $2,500, with biannual payments available.*

 If you have already renewed your membership at a level that no longer exists, you will still receive the same benefits for the rest of your membership period.

*Please contact membership@artmuseum.org to set up bi-annual payments.

We firmly believe in supporting the arts generally, and the YAM, specifically, because as Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Deborah Anspach & John Hanson, Lifetime Legacy Members

Billings Couple Donate $1 Million to YAM

The Yellowstone Art Museum is celebrating 60 years in 2024. And thanks to Deborah Anspach and John Hanson, the museum should be around for a lot more anniversary parties in the future.

In February, Anspach and Hanson made a $1 million gift to the museum. It’s far and away the biggest donation in the YAM’s history. Just for some context, it was a $240,000 grant that allowed the YAM to waive admission fees for three years. This is over four times that.

by Jake Iverson

“Deborah and John are longtime enthusiasts,” said Executive Director Jessica Kay Ruhle. “This is an amazing gift they’re making to the community.”

And they’re doing it because they’re a part of that community. Anspach and Hanson, who are married, have lived in Billings since 1981. They’re both retired now, but they worked here for years, her as an attorney, him as a diagnostic radiologist at St. Vincent Healthcare. They still live in the house they moved into over 40 years ago, the same one they raised their two sons in. Billings is home.

And so is the YAM. Anspach went so far as to call the museum a “second home.” She’s been on the YAM’s board of trustees since 2014, and served as the board president from 2020 to 2022. During her tenure, she was at the museum so much people started joking that she needed to set up an apartment on the premises.

That was a tough time for the YAM, with the hardships of COVID and the departure of former Executive Director Brian Knicely in 2021. Anspach was one of the folks tasked with guiding the museum’s rudder as it was rocked by numerous storms.

On March 14, 2020, just as the world was changing forever, the museum opened an exhibition of works by the abstract painter Neltje. It wasn’t a good time to showcase the painter’s work, as she specialized in massive pieces — sometimes the size of gallery walls — that really need to be experienced in person. But, like so many things in the world during that time, the museum and the exhibition it held had to figure out how to exist in a new world.

Anspach found herself alone in the museum, having a “horrible day,” suddenly faced with how to lead an art museum as the world seemed to be falling apart everywhere she looked.

“I just went up (to the Neltje exhibition) and sat by myself,” she remembered. “I didn’t solve any problems. I just knew I wasn’t going to die.”

That moment, of quiet calm in a turbulent world, stuck with her. She said she’ll never forget it.

Great art’s powers are numerous, but one of them is that it puts us in our place and reminds us of the universe around us. Anspach realized that, while staring at abstract flowers that were nearly too big for the room they were displayed in.

We need art like that, and we need museums to preserve, document and showcase that art.

“The YAM is a solid piece of the community that must remain,” said Hanson. That’s what spurred the couple to donate all this money. To keep this going, so that when the next calamity hits — be it a world historic event or just a rotten day — someone else can look at Neltje and remember their place in all of this mess.

The money is going into the YAM’s endowment, which is effectively a savings account for the museum. You can put as much as you want into it, but can only withdraw 5% per year, so it stays around for whoever, and whatever, comes next. Before Anspach and Hanson’s gift, the YAM’s endowment fund was $4.5 million, meaning the new donation grew the savings by more than 20%.

And the Anspach and Hanson donation is specifically meant to go to the executive director position, which the YAM has now officially renamed the Deborah Anspach and John Hanson Executive Director of the Yellowstone Art Museum, a lofty and evocative title that might be hard to fit on a business card.

But it’s a fitting title for Ruhle, for a few reasons. For one, the director adores Anspach and Hanson.

“She’s so committed to the museum,” Ruhle said of Anspach. “She’s been instrumental in my time here.”

Plus, Anspach is the one of the people who hired Ruhle back in early 2022. The director might not be here right now without her.

And the praise is mutual.

“This place can’t function without a competent executive director,” Hanson said. “We think Jessica is the right person to be the anchor. That’s why we designated the endowment to be used that way.”

They decided to make the donation now partially to secure the executive director position, but also so that they can get to enjoy the fruits of their gift.

“Billings has been good to us,” Hanson explained. “We’ve been fortunate, and we wanted to give back to the

community. We’re doing it now before we cool to room temperature.”

Jokes aside, the couple are also hoping their gift inspires others to donate to the YAM, or to any other worthy nonprofits and organizations around town.

“We’re doing this now to get other people to realize they can do this,” Hanson said. “We’re not affluent people. We’ve saved well, and we live below our means. So at this point in our life, we can do this. We hope others support and step up.”

“There are people who are maybe afraid that their gift isn’t enough,” he continued. “But it’s always enough. It’s not the size of the gift, it’s the size of the heart.”

SummerFair is a seasonal favorite for the Billings community that draws a crowd of locals seeking summertime fun. Now in its 46th year, SummerFair has become one of the largest arts and crafts festivals in the region, featuring makers from near and far.

The YAM is excited to host SummerFair at the Metra for the second year in a row, providing visitors and vendors with an optimal experience free from the uncertainties of weather in Montana. The Metra’s Expo Center offers a larger indoor footprint with the outdoor atmosphere that is a signature of SummerFair. The Metra has ample parking, ADA accessibility, indoor restrooms, and added security.

Visitors will enjoy a weekend full of arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, artistic demonstrations, local brews and delicious eats. A wide variety of artists, community groups, and food vendors participate every year. Artist booths at SummerFair include painting, photography, ceramics,

glass, wood, metal, fiber art, body products, and artisan foods. Local nonprofits also have informational booths. All vendors’ products are handmade so it’s the perfect place to find sustainable and unique gifts for you or someone special while supporting artists and the Billings community!

SummerFair is always fun for the whole family with free admission for kids ages 6 and under. Plus, the YAM’s Education Tent will have craft supplies and activities for kids of all ages all weekend long. Admission is free for YAM members and $5 for non-members. SummerFair is a fundraiser for the museum and embodies the YAM’s mission by enriching the community through interactive experiences and creative exchange. It is also a weekend of cultural collaboration and a chance for the YAM to step out into the community! SummerFair 2024 is sure to be another spectacular weekend in Billings- rain or shine!

Thank you to our SummerFair sponsors:

Lornel Baker Linda Snider Kristi Tolliver

Tari K Broderick

COMING UP IN 2024

Annual YAM Golf Tournament

US Bank, Riversage Inns, Lornel Baker, Jennifer & Steve Corning, Mitchell Golf, Sharon Peterson, Stewart Title, This House of Books, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Donnes Construction, Rimrock Pediatric Dentistry, Trailhead Pediatric Dentistry, Cushing Terrell, Mary Dobrowsky, Sonny Todd Real Estate, Cladis Investment Advisory LLC, Irion Properties LLC, Pepsi

Annual YAM Golf Tournament will be held at Briarwood Country Club on Friday, June 14, 2024. Shotgun start with scramble format begins at 8:30 AM. Teams of 4 are $750, which includes breakfast, lunch, a tee sign, and prizes! Proceeds raised will support the YAM’s Building Initiative and YAM Education Programs. Help us make those much-needed repairs to the historic building so we can better house our exhibitions, permanent collection, and

To register your team, visit www.artmuseum.org/engage/special-events.

Showcase your business and your support of the YAM with a Golf Tournament Sponsorship!

For more details about sponsorship opportunities, contact Precious McKenzie, Director of Advancement, at development@artmuseum.org or 406.256.6804 x 225.

YAM’S 2 nd Annual Monster Drawing Rally | Friday, October 4, 2024

Sponsor: Bess Lovec

Part live art-making performance, part art-bazaar, part live auction, the YAM’s Second Annual Monster Drawing Rally (a play on a monster truck rally) is a fast-paced, lively fundraising event! During a Monster Drawing Rally artists create artworks from start-to-finish using their preferred quick-drying medium, within a 1-hour time limit all in front of a live audience, who can bid on the works once they are created. Monster Drawing Rally offers a rare and exciting opportunity to watch artists in action and a chance to take home their completed pieces for $50 each, all while supporting a good cause! The YAM’s Monster Drawing Rally benefits both the participating artists and the Yellowstone Art Museum and is an event for the whole family.

Masquerade | Saturday, October 26

The most creative Halloween party in Billings! Stay tuned: 2024’s theme will be announced in July. Tickets go on sale September 1, 2024.

YAM Teens: Volkersz Visions, 3:30 – 5 PM

FAM at the YAM: Sewing Bee with Elizabeth Stone, 4 – 6 PM

First Friday: Sewing Bee with Elizabeth Stone and Live Poetry Typing with Anne Holub, 5 – 8 PM

Adult Art Class: Drawing at Tippet Rise Art Center with John Kennedy, 10 AM – 4 PM

Artist Talk with Will Wilson, 5 PM reception, 5:30 PM artist talk

Studio 2nd Saturday: Scenic Splendor, 10 AM – 12 PM

Adult Cooking Class: Fruit Is The Star, 10 AM – 1:30 PM

Last day for Crow Agency 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades YAG Exhibition

YAM Teens: Open Studio, 3:30 – 5 PM

Gallery Conversation with Professor Tim McCleary on Apsáalooke Language, 5 PM reception, 5:30 PM conversation

Connections at the Art Museum, 10:30 AM – 12 PM

Park City K–2nd Grades YAG Exhibition Opens

Urban Sketching & Sketch Booking Symposium, 10 AM – 4 PM

Artist Talk with Willem Volkersz, 5 PM reception, 5:30 PM artist talk

Adult Art Class: Tintypes with Todd Forsgren, 10 AM – 4 PM

The Importance of Representation and Storytelling in Native American Poetry with Anne Holub & M.L. Smoker, 1 – 2 PM

Last day for In Conversation: Will Wilson

Summer Art Academy at Rocky Mountain College

YAM Teens: Summer Open Studio, 3 – 5 PM

ArtWalk & First Friday: Live Poetry Typing with Anne Holub, 5 – 7 PM

Summer Art Academy at Rocky Mountain College

3rd Annual YAM Golf Tournament at Briarwood Country Club, 8:30 AM

YAM Teens: A Poet’s Art Studio, 3 – 5 PM

European Immigrant Poetry — Stories from War and Home with Anne Holub, 6 – 7 PM

Summer Art Studio: Art on the Road, Session 1: 10 AM – 12 PM, Session 2: 1 – 3 PM

Celebrating Complexities: Ucross Native American Opens

Connections at the Art Museum, 10:30 AM – 12 PM

SummerFair at MetraPark 9 AM – 7 PM

SummerFair at MetraPark 9 AM – 4 PM

Last day for Park City K–2nd Grades YAG Exhibition

Summer Art Studio: Talking Typography, Session 1: 10 AM – 12 PM, Session 2: 1 – 3 PM

Greybull Middle & High School YAG Exhibition Opens

First Friday at the YAM, 5 – 8 PM

Last day for Willem Volkersz: The View From Here 11

Summer Art Studio: Planes of Paper, Session 1: 10 AM – 12 PM, Session 2: 1 – 3 PM

YAM Teens: Open Studio, 3:30 – 5 PM

18

Summer Art Studio: For the Love of Painting, Session 1: 10 AM – 12 PM, Session 2: 1 – 3 PM 19

Connections at the Art Museum, 10:30 AM – 12 PM

22– 26

29– 02

YAM Camp for Ages 9 – 12, 9 AM – 3 PM

Member’s-Only Preview of Mark Earnhart & Jodi Lightner: Suspended Intervals, 4 PM

First Friday at the YAM, 5 – 8 PM

Mark Earnhart & Jodi Lightner: Suspended Intervals Opens

YAM Teens: Space and Structure, 3 – 5 PM

Last day for Greybull Middle & High School YAG Exhibition

Gallery Conversation with Gilles Stockton & Lisa Ranallo on Bill Stockton, 5 PM reception, 5:30 PM conversation

YAM Camp for Ages 9 – 12, 9 AM – 3 PM

YAM Camp for Ages 6 – 8, 9 AM – 3 PM 29– 02

Connections at the Art Museum, 10:30 AM – 12 PM

Hardin Middle School YAG Exhibition Opens

Last day for The Generosity of Miriam Sample

YAM Teens: Open Studio, 3:30 – 5 PM 22

Movie Night in the Visible Vault: Words from a Bear biography of N. Scott Momaday with Anne Holub, 6 – 9:30 PM

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, & TEENS

Scan the QR code to visit the education page on YAM’s website or check Facebook for updates, registration info, and pricing. artmuseum.org/educate

STUDIO 2ND SATURDAY

Ages 5 – 12 | 10 AM – 12 PM

Members: $10 | Not-yet Members: $20 Register online, by calling 406.256.6804 x238 or email arteducator@artmuseum.org

Every Studio 2nd Saturday class includes touring the galleries and creating art that is connected to current exhibitions.

May 11 | Scenic Splendor

Construct a scene using paint pens and found objects based on the artwork of Willem Volkersz and his exhibition The View from Here.

FAM AT THE YAM

All ages welcome | 4 – 6 PM at the YAM Free! No advanced registration required.

FAM at the YAM is for every type of family. Bring yourself, children, friends, grandparents, and more. Create art together with a professional artist and learn about their process. It’s a great way to kick off your First Friday evening.

May 3 | Sewing Bee

Join artist Elizabeth Stone to create a community work of art! Be a part of our first sewing bee and help sew together negatives and slides that will become a large sculptural work and part of the YAM permanent collection.

SUMMER ART STUDIO

Ages 5 – 12 | Each Thursday has 2 Sessions Session 1: 10 AM – 12 PM | Session 2: 1 – 3 PM

Members: $10 | Not-yet Members: $20 Register online at artmuseum.org/educate/childrens-classes Every Summer Art Studio class includes touring the galleries and creating art that is connected to current exhibitions.

June 20 | Art on the Road

Pack your suitcase with art and create a mobile art show based on Willem Volkersz exhibition The View from Here.

June 27 | Talking Typography

Express yourself typographically and make a layered work of art in connection to the exhibition Celebrating Complexities.

July 11 | Planes of Paper

Experiment with shape and form to build a paper sculpture inspired by the YAM’s permanent collection.

July 18 | For the Love of Painting

Play with color, light, and space like permanent collection artists in the exhibition Gifts of Miriam Sample.

SUMMER ART ACADEMY

Ages 7 – 14 | June 3 – 7 & June 10 – 14

YAM Members: $335 | Not-Yet-Members: $375

Sibling Price for YAM Members Only: $300 Register online at artmuseum.org/educate/childrenscamps or in-person at the YAM.

For questions email Marilu Metherell at adulted@artmuseum.org or call 406-256-6805 x250. Need-based scholarships from the Sally McIntosh Scholarship fund are available. For an application, email Carrie Goe Nettleton at education@artmuseum.org.

Summer Art Academy is in its 24th season! At this camp, young artists study under professional artists in concentrated areas, which they choose. Class sizes are limited. Art supplies are included in the cost of tuition. Students bring their own snacks and lunches. Summer Art Academy is located on the campus of Rocky Mountain College.

Classes this year include:

Wearable Indigenous Art, Art Journaling, Music, Animation, Yoga, Found Object Sculpture, Creature Design, Printmaking, Stage Combat (ages 10–14), Puppetry, Painting, Beginning and Advanced Beading, Watercolor, and Mixed Media.

YOUNG ARTISTS’ GALLERY

Crow Agency 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades

Saturday, April 6 – Sunday, May 12

Park City K–2nd Grades

Saturday, May 18 – Sunday, June 23

Greybull Middle & High School

Saturday, June 29 – Sunday, August 11

Hardin Middle School

Saturday, August 17 – Sunday, October 6

YAM CAMP

Ages 6 – 8 | July 22 – 26 from 9 AM – 3 PM

Ages 9 – 12 | July 29 – August 2 from 9 AM – 3 PM

YAM Members: $260 | Not-Yet-Members: $300

Sibling Price for YAM Members Only: $235

Register online at artmuseum.org/educate/childrenscamps or in-person at the YAM.

For questions and membership discount codes, email Angel Shandy at arteducator@artmuseum.org or call 406.256.6805 x238.

For scholarship applications, email Carrie Goe Nettleton at education@artmuseum.org.

Explore space and structure to imagine new worlds using a variety of 2D and 3D art mediums! Inspired by the work of Jodi Lightner and Mark Earnhart in their exhibition Suspended Intervals. Young artists spend a week at the YAM creating art, exploring the galleries, and making friends.

YAM TEENS

Ages 12 – 18 | 3:30 – 5 PM Spring | 3 – 5 PM Summer

Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month Free! No advance registration required. Make art, meet artists, build community, and explore endless possibilities. On the 1st Wednesday of the month, we dive into the YAM’s exhibitions, learn new techniques, and discover your artistic voice. The 3rd Wednesday of the month is your chance to create in our fully stocked education studio. You can finish a work in progress or start a new project.

Questions? Email Angel at arteducator@artmuseum.org.

May 1 | Volkersz Visions

May 15 | Open Studio

June 5 | Summer Open Studio June 19 | A Poet’s Art

July 3 | NO TEENS

July 17 | Open Studio

August 7 | NO TEENS

August 21 | Space and Structure

ADULT ART & COOKING CLASSES

For more information scan the QR code or visit artmuseum.org/educate/adult-education. Please email our Adult Education Coordinator, Marilu Metherell at Adulted@artmuseum.org with any questions. Register online or call the front desk at 406.256.6804. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. YAM Museum Members receive 20% off all adult education courses.

Art CLASSES

Drawing at Tippet Rise Art Center with John Kennedy Saturday, May 4 | 10 AM – 4 PM Supply fee: $25

You are in for a special treat! We will meet at Tippet Rise Art Center at 10 AM and draw/paint Plein Air Landscapes until 4 PM. Please pack a lunch for yourself and plenty of snacks and refreshments for your day. Water bottle filling stations are available. Supplies will be provided.

Urban Sketching & Sketch Booking Symposium Saturday, May 18 | 10 AM – 4 PM FREE and no registration is required. It is that time again! Mark your calendars for this year’s Urban Sketching and Sketch Booking Symposium! Are you ready to elevate your sketching into a more memorable visual experience? Sharpen your pencils and join artists from The Billings Arts Association and Billing’s own Urban Sketchers for a day of FREE pop-up workshops and onsite demos at the Museum. Learn the basic framework of urban sketching and keeping a sketchbook, and discover the tools used to create on the fly. Jump into the world of rendering perspective, then study color and layout with the artists to help tell your story in a fresh new way. Join the Urban Sketchers group and gain access to weekly year-round meetups in and around Billings to build your portfolio or simply hone your visual literacy skills. Urban Sketching not your thing? Join us for our other workshops including Nature Journaling, Travel Journaling, and Art Journaling. The skills you learn are useful for any creative journaling practice.

Saturday Cooking CLASSES

10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Members: $64 | Not-Yet-Members: $80

May 11 | Fruit Is The Star Sweet and savory dishes highlighting fruit.

YOGA @ THE YAM

Every Wednesday 10:30 – 11:30 AM

Drop in anytime! Members: $10 |Not-Yet-Members: $15 YAM member $50 for a six-class series Not-Yet-Members $75 for a six-class series

Join us every Wednesday from 10:30 – 11:30 AM in the Murdock Gallery. Yoga instructor and YAM member Sarah Brown will lead these sessions and she will welcome ALL levels. Bring your own mat or borrow one of ours.

CONNECTIONS AT THE ART MUSEUM

with the Montana Chapter of the Every 3rd Friday | May 17 | June 21 | July 19 | August 16, 2024 from 10:30 AM – 12 PM No cost to participate. Registration in advance is required. Call 800.272.3900 or email montana@alz.org to register. This monthly program promotes connection and companionship for individuals living with early-stage memory loss and their care partners through art. Join us to view, discuss, and create art with trained docents and volunteers.

May 2024

First Friday Live Poetry Typing

Friday, May 3 | 5 – 7 PM

Museum writer-in-residence Anne Holub will be composing and typing poems on postcards with a typewriter during the evening’s First Friday events. Stop by to pick out a postcard and to get a unique poem to take home!

Write Along in the Museum

Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21, & 28 | 3:30 – 4:30 PM

Drop in for the weekly Write Along in the museum. Gallery location TBD. Writing materials are provided or bring your own. No pre-registration required.

June 2024

The Importance of Representation and Storytelling in Native American Poetry

Saturday, June 1 | 1 – 2 PM

Join museum writer-in-residence, Anne Holub, in the unique photography exhibit, In Conversation: Will Wilson, on the second floor of the museum to learn more about the importance of language and storytelling in Native American poetry. There will be readings of poetry written by Indigenous writers, as well as recordings of poems spoken by the writers themselves. Then, explore the augmented reality (AR) storytelling from the Will Wilson photographs on exhibit, and compare those personal stories to ones not told in the exhibit’s companion exhibit, by photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis who often posed and dressed his Native American photographic subjects.

Art Walk & First Friday Live Poetry Typing

Friday, June 7 | 5 – 7 PM

Writer-in-residence Anne Holub joins us with her typewriter and a set of postcards tonight for the June Art Walk. She’ll be composing and typing poems on demand tonight, and you can take your one-of-a-kind postcard home with you.

Write Along in the Museum

Tuesdays, June 4, 11, & 18 | 3:30 – 4:30 PM

Saturday, June 15 | 1 – 2 PM

Drop in for the weekly Write Along in the museum. Gallery location TBD. Writing materials are provided or bring your own. No pre-registration required.

WRITTING EVENTS WITH ANNE HOLUB

June 2024

YAM Teens: A Poet’s Art

Wednesday, June 19 | 3:30 – 5 PM

Writer-in-residence, Anne Holub, joins the YAM Teens program today to talk about how writing in conversation with or in response to art can elevate simple observation into something more. We’ll explore different writing techniques from journaling to hands-on papercrafts to respond to artistic works as a type of “translation” of experiences.

European Immigrant Poetry — Stories from War and Home

Thursday, June 20 | 6 – 7 PM

Join Anne Holub, museum writer-in-residence, for a discussion of the power and conflict shown in poetry written by European poets and American poets who immigrated from European countries. In conversation with the exhibit by Holland-born Montana artist Willem Volkersz, The View From Here, we’ll explore the power of poetry to talk about war, death, love, and even beauty. We’ll also discuss how “Americanized” experiences can color the nature of poetry by immigrant writers.

July 2024

Write Along in the Museum

Tuesdays, July 9, 16, & 23 | 3:30 – 4:30 PM

Saturday, July 13 | 1 – 2 PM

Drop in for the weekly Write Along in the museum. Gallery location TBD. Writing materials are provided or bring your own. No pre-registration required.

August

2024

Write Along in the Museum

Tuesdays, August 6, 13, & 27 | 3:30 – 4:30 PM

Saturday, August 17 | 1 – 2 PM

Drop in for the weekly Write Along in the museum. Gallery location TBD. Writing materials are provided or bring your own. No pre-registration required.

Movie Night in the Visible Vault: Words from a Bear biography of N. Scott Momaday

Thursday, August 22 | 6:30 – 9 PM

Join us in the cool (literally!) Visible Vault with your favorite camp chair, comfy blanket, and snacks for a very special museum event – Movie Night! We’ll be screening the PBS American Masters documentary about indigenous writer and poet, N. Scott Momaday. Before the film, museum writer-in-residence Anne Holub will talk a little about Momaday’s work and will read some of his poetry.

THANK YOU CONTRIBUTORS

We would like to give our sincerest thanks to all members, donors, and sponsors who contributed $125 and above. This cumulative list reflects gifts to the YAM given through March 25, 2024, including Art Auction purchases.

$1,000,000+

Deborah Anspach & John Hanson

$200,00+

Art Bridges

Mary Alice Fortin Foundation Yellowstone County

$100,00 – 199,999

Jennifer & Steve Corning

$50,000 – 99,999

Anonymous

$24,999 – 49,999

Lornel Baker

Dr. John & Patricia Burg

Jane Waggoner Deschner & Jon Lodge

Kathryn C. Wanlass Charitable Foundation

Marilyn H. Floberg Trust

Gary & Melissa Oakland

Christine & James Scott

Linda Shelhamer & Stephen Haraden

Roy Yakulic

$10,000 – 24,999

Anonymous

Autio Artwork LLC

Charlies M. Bair Family Trust

Diane Boyer Jerhoff

Cynthia Foster

John W. & Carol L.H. Green

Hilltop Inn by Riversage

Betty Loos & Gordon McConnell

Bess Lovec

Ruth & Larry Martin

Montana Arts Council

Kim & Don Olsen

Riversage Billings Inn

Dr. Kris Spanjian & Ray Gilbertson

Stephanie & Matthew Stroud

Susan Scott Heyneman Foundation

Trish & Tim Matteson

Tippet Rise of the Sidney E. Frank Foundation

Jeanne & Charlie Widdicombe

$5,000 – 9,999

Joel Anderson

Gale & Dok Arvanites

Covey & Paul Baker

Carol Beam

Rollin Beamish

Cheryl & Randy Bentley

Jim Collins Concept Design

Rachel & Paul Cox

First Interstate Bank

Todd Forsgren

Rosetta Hixson

Val Jeffries & Allen Powers

Kampgrounds of America, Inc.

Gareld Krieg

Dr. Precious McKenzie & William Stearns

Kim & Jeff Montag

Rimrock Subaru

Rocky Mountain College

Maggy & David Rozycki Hiltner

Susan Shelhamer

Sibanye Stillwater

Stockman Bank

Susan Sullivan & Stephen Zabawa

TEDxBillings

Margit Thorndal

Evelyn Waldron

Sara Walsh

Dr. Bob & Elizabeth Wilmouth

$2,500 – 4,999

Carole Baumann

Billings Scheels

Gilbert Burdett

Kristen Cliffel

Sherri Eastman

First Interstate BancSystem Foundation

Kay Foster & Mike Mathew

Dona & Paul Hagen

Andrea & Alex Heyneman

Jane & Terry Indreland

Carrie La Seur & Andrew Wildenberg

MasterLube

Elaine McClelland

Chris Montague

Mark Offenbach

Opportunity Bank

RBC Foundation

Ann Rhoads

Sharon Richey

Beverly Ross

Louis Ross

Mary Serbe & Shane De Leon

Dr. William & Suzanne Smoot

Linda Snider

Zonta Club of Billings

Zonta Club of Billings Foundation

$1,000 – 2,499

Anonymous

Ossie Abrams

Jesse Albrecht

Mitchell Arvanites

Dora & Larry Bean

Kay & Dan Berry

Norma & Gary Buchanan

Kris Carpenter

Dr. Doug & Karla Carr

Robert Celecia & Dallas Celecia

Sean Chandler

Linda & Nick Cladis

Connie & David Clapp

The Honorable William & Anne Cole

Catherine Courtenaye

Leslie Crawford

Holly & Ryan Cremer

Chad Cumin

Nancy Curriden

Cushing Terrell

Tiff Davidson-Blades

Margaret Davis & Bruce Ennis

Mary & David Dobrowsky

Karen Doolen

Betsy & Ben Forbes

Heather & David Gaitonde

Michael Ganz

Google

Kimberly & William Gottwals

Dr. Jim Guyer & Jeanie Mentikov

Theresa & Peter Habein

Joan Haseltine

Dr. Don & Georgia Hicks

Amber Hofferber

Homewood Suites by Hilton

Cynthia & Dave Hummel

Erin Hurbi & Joe Corning

Kirsten Kainz

Margo & Frank Kelley

John Kennedy

Dr. Steve Kriner & Sherri Cornett

Evey LaMont & Tom Singer

Dorothy Long

Joy & James Mariska

Dr. Elizabeth McNamer

Drs.Linda & Robert Merchant

Montana Dakota Resources

Kate Morris

Davilynn Nelson

Northern Plains Resource Council

NorthWestern Energy

Tanya & Matt Nuckols

Allison O’Donnell & Mark Sanderson

Toby O’Rourke

Dr. Walt & Mary Peet

Sharon Peterson

Dr. Donald & Carol Roberts

Royal & Norma Johnson

Charitable Foundation

Jessica Kay Ruhle & Dustin Ogdin

Saddle Ridge Services, Inc

Elizabeth Scanlin & Jeff Anderson

Julie Schultz

Marcia Selsor

Laura & Eric Simonsen

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith

Paige Spalding & James Hummel

Kevin Red Star

Shirley Steele

The Foundation for Montana History

Lilly Corning Thompson & William Thompson

Timothy Sweeney

Donna Todd

Patti Townsend

Christal Winterrowd

Amy & Ron Yates

Jeremiah Young

$500 – 999

Britta Anderson

Jennifer Anderson

Crista Ann Ames

Elizabeth Anthony

Dr. Bruce & Susan Barrow

Dora & Larry Bean

Lisa & Patrick Beddow

Jeanne & Ron Bender

Lisa & Jeff Berke

Big Sky Resort

Billings Federal Credit Union

Leslie Blair

Lawrence Carpenter

Mark Carpenter

Carla & Patrick Cobb

Vicki Conley

Mary Lee & Martin Connell

Dr. James & Linda Cornetet

Dr. Gordon & Dodie Cox

Joy & Gene Culver

Mary Lee & David Darby

Shari & Bob Dayton

Connie Dillon

Fred Fleischmann

Michelle & Glenn Foy

Bess Synder Fredlund

Frontier Trucking

Rita Giebink

Erin & Bruce Glennie

Sarah Grau & Vince Long

Bente Houle

Gesine Janzen

Jane Harriet Jellinek

Judy Johnson

Drs. Julie Johnson & Jim Rollins

Sandy & Pierre Jomini

Horton Koessler

Landy Leep

Brooks & Gary Leete

Kathe & William McDaniels

Heather McDowell

Jean McNally

Marilu & Jim Metherell

Microsoft

Mariellen Neudeck

Susan Ogden

Purple Cow

Jaq Quanbeck

Barbara Ramlow

Theresa & Dennis Rubin

Beverly & William Ryan

Barbara Sample

Dr. Rachel Schaffer & Dr.

Deborah Schaffer

Schutz Foss Architects, P.C.

Sharon Shannon

Corby Skinner

Dr. Stewart & Mary Jane Taylor

Valerie Ann & James Taylor

The Joy of Living

Thirsty Street Brewing Co.

Mark Thompson

Kristi Tolliver

Pauline & Steve Tostenrud

Bill & Mary Underriner

Jane Urbaska

Cheri & Greg Wrench

Pei & Skye Wu

$125 – 499

Anonymous

Dr. Hewes & Susan Agnew

Kathy & Richard Aldrich

Tomi & Dale Alger

Kelsey Allen

Craig Anderson

Dr. William & Gail Andrus

Amor & Rob Andy

Susan Baack & Dan Gross

Elaine Baker

Edward Barta

Rede Ballard

Susan Barnett

Richard Bart

Kevin Bartlett

James Bason

Mary Bauer

Lindsey & Ben Beasley

Donna Bernhardt

Nada & Phil Bell

Dr. Dawn Birk

Connie & Larry Blackwood

Phyllis Bock

Rick Bonogofsky

Katherine Branch Ball

Kim Bricker

Tari & Randy Broderick

Rockwood Brown

Janice Buehler

Judith Burnam

Isabelle Carroll

Angela Carter

Desirae & Mike Caskey

Elizabeth Chappie-Zoller

Kean Christensen

Mona Clark

Teressa Clark

Sandy & Paul Clavadetscher

Jessica Cochran-Cole

Abby Coffee

Melissa Conley

Duane Crants

Bruce Crippen

Jan & David Dietrich

Stephanie Dishno

Donnes Construction

Marilee & Lewis Duncan

Michelle Duncan

Karen Durfey

Robin Earles & Steve Kuennen

Diane & David Eichler

Patricia Ellis

Carol Erbe & James Jones

Bonnie Erickson

Susan Everson

Dr. Doug Ezell & Sharon Christensen

Janice & John Fordham

Louisa Frank & Ellen Wilson

Stacie & Brett French

Melissa Frost & James Madden

Marjorie & Angus Fulton

Tiffany Burnam Garcia

MaryKay Gartland & Tom Lynaugh

Tom Gephart

GFWC - Billings Junior Woman’s Club

Giebink Properties

Kate & Rein Gillstrom

Cathy & Mike Glennon

Anna Goan

Carrie Goe Nettleton & Tyler Nettleton

Dr. Jim & Margaret Good

Karen & Jim Gransbery

Celine & Daniel Gray

Dr. Paul Grmoljez & Alice Gordon

Barbara & Walter Gulick

Billie Gustafson

Beverly Hall

Sally & Rich Hall

Nancy Halter & Greg Jahn

Paula Halverson & Benjamin Goldman

Jo Hamilton

Lyndsay Hanna

Thora Hanson

Rita Harding

Joni & Steve Harman

Joanna & Stephen Harper

Executive Officers

Matt Stroud

President

Bess Lovec

President-Elect/Vice President

Susan Sullivan

Treasurer

Deborah Anspach

Immediate Past President

Dr. Brian & Molly Harrington

Cheryl & Donald Harris

Steph & Joel Hecker

Joan & Jeffrey Heser

Eric Hodgsen

Dr. Paul & D’anne Holley

Carolyn Holmlund

Jordan Hoyt

Roberta Anner Hughes & Edward Hughes

Cristi & Jeff Hunnes

Linda & Jerry Iverson

Katherine Jabs

Stephanie Jauron

Erin & Chris Jimison

Amanda Johnson

Lori Johnson

Zak Jokela

Pam Jones & Edward Hahn

Amanda Jungles

Dr. Jess Jur & Paige Presler-Jur

Marie & James Kelly

David Kimball

Phoebe Knapp Warren & Paul Warren

Donna & Keith Kohnke

Michelle & John Koppelman

Diane & Ted Kylander

Sue Ellen Lee

Brooks & Gary Leete

Jodi Lightner

Kathy Lombardozzi

Janet Ludwig

Robert MacGrady & Michael Weinheimer

Dr. Laurence DeBoer & Lisa Malody

Gerry & Herbert Mangis

Janet & Frank Mann

Rudi Marten

Kristy & Alex Martin

Myrna Martinson

Deborah Mattern

Keagan McCarthy

Dr. Robert & Sharon McDermott

Kristal McKamey

Jean & Lonnie McKenzie

Tonya McPheeters

Debbie & Rich McRae

Andrew Megorden

Alice Meister & George Baskin

Board of Trustees

Joel Anderson

Lornel Baker

Juni Clark

Jennifer Corning

Todd Forsgren

Kim Gottwals

Amanda Johnson

Larry Martin

Gary Oakland

Kim Olsen

Darcie Tempel

Donna Todd

Brenda Meyer

Donna Meyer

Lauri & Mark Miron

Cynthia & David Moore

Suzanne & Jon Moyers

Dotti & Gary Mueller

Janice Munsell

Jeanne & Randy Nafts

Elise Olson

Cindy Osland

Layla Owens

Jennifer Parry

Donna Pavlish

Peacock Cleaning, LLC

Dr. Fran Argani & Jim Peak

Catherine & Maurie Petterson

Sarah Plath

Diana & John Pollock

Debbie Potter

Beth & Kenneth Pumo

Mur Louisa Quaglia

Derek Quick

Erin & Luke Rains

Dr. Mark & Chris Randak

Diane & Sam Rankin

Jennette Rasch

Keeara Rhoades

Mary Roe-Salle & Robert Salle

Connie Rohrdanz

Paula Roos

Lin & Jim Roscoe

Sheila & Robert Ruble

Dale Ruff

Lori & Jim Sandall

Toucan Gallery

Kathleen Sather

Mary & Patrick Schelle

John Scheuering

Arlee & Barry Scott

Amy & Rick Selensky

Jackie & Ken Senteney

Lori & Latif Shahzad

Kathie & Steve Shandera

Chrystal Shaw

Nina & Larry Sheneman

Lynn Shield

Shirley Shirley

Shawna Simpson

Andrew Smith

YAM Team

Katie Bales

Membership Coordinator

Isabelle Carroll

Front Desk & Retail Manager

Angela Carter,

Executive Assistant

Michelle Foy

Volunteer Grant Writer

Kimberly Gaitonde

Curatorial Assistant

Carrie Goe Nettleton

Education Director

Aidan Harrington

Front Desk Receptionist

Laura Krapacher

Registrar

Starrlene Love

Front Desk Receptionist

Elaine McClelland

Finance Director

Valentine Smith

Linda Snedigar

Claire Snyder

Abbey & Steve Sonntag

Jacque Stannebein

Kirsten & Noel Stanton

Alissa Stavig

David Stensrud

Nona & Gilles Stockton

Linda & William Stoudt

Amy Strecker

Dr. Esther Beth Sullivan & David Floerchinger

Leslie Taylor

This House of Books

Debbie & Bill Tierney

The Honorable Chuck & Joanie Tooley

Ruth & Tom Towe

Laurel Urlabher

Varela Law Firm, PLLC

Dr. Patricia & Richard Vettel-Becker

Lisa Ventura & Carl Ritterpusch

Michael Vicars

Dr. James Vincent

Diane & Willem Volkersz

Jen & Kai Walker

Susan & Scott Walker

Susan Walton & Thomas Romine

Barb Waters

Jennifer Webber

Carol & John Welch

Dr. Amber West Martin & Jason Martin

Betty & Paul Whiting

Shannon Widdicombe

Judy Williams

Patricia Williams

Linda & Aaron Williamson

Suzanne Wilson

Sandra Wong

Dixie & YungBen Yelvington

Ric Zimmerman

Zest

ZooMontana

Precious McKenzie

Advancement Director

Marilu Metherell

Adult Education Coordinator

Nickolas Olson

Marketing Manager

Chaz Riewaldt

Facilities Manager

Jessica Kay Ruhle

Executive Director

Angel Shandy

Museum Art Educator

Molly Schiltz

Special Events Coordinator

Tatum Walker

Rental Coordinator

Carter West

Preparator

Celebrating Complexities: Ucross Nat ive Amer ican Fellowship Artists

Opening June 21, 2024

OUR MISSION

The Yellowstone Art Museum exhibits, interprets, collects, and preserves art, for the enrichment, education, inspiration, and enjoyment of all.

We are funded in part by coal severance taxes paid based upon coal mined in Montana and deposited in Montana’s cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund.