In the art world, a mosaic is made from a collection of pieces of glass, clay, stone and other materials. And like a community of people, each piece is unique and has its own story.

With that in mind, the Stumptown Art Studio in Whitefish is working on a new project titled “Windows on Whitefish,” which abbreviates as WOW. The idea is to replace the mural on the building on the corner of East Second Street and Central Avenue, which currently houses Latitude 48 Bistro and Red Room Bar, with four large mosaics depicting the seasons in Whitefish.

 

E-mail Story   Print Story

 

The folks at Fresh Life Church, which also hosts Skull Church, have plans to fill up the Majestic Valley Arena this weekend for its Easter celebration.

As part of that weekend, the Skull Church event on Friday, April 4, will feature the popular crossover band, "Red," as well as a gospel message from pastor Levi Lusko.

According to Fresh Life, Red's most recent album reached No. 2 on Billboard’s charts and No. 1 on all of iTunes. The event is free, and the doors open at 6 p.m. The evening starts at 7 p.m. Skull Church attendees typically head to the Strand and Liberty theaters in downtown Kalispell, but the church hopes to fill the 6,500-seat arena for this event.

Then, on Easter Sunday, April 8, Fresh Life Church will host its celebration at the arena complete with a performance from "For King & Country," a Billboard 2012 “Artist to Watch." That event is also free, and begins at 10 a.m., with doors opening at 9 a.m.

For King & Country's debut album, "Crave," made it to No. 2 on the iTunes Christian and Gospel charts, and the band was part of the 2012 WinterJam tour.

For more information on Fresh Life Church, visit www.freshlifechurch.com or call 406-257-3339 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

 

E-mail Story   Print Story

 

On a postcard from 1910, a man, a boy and a dog stand beside two bridled workhorses, with Flathead Lake providing a dramatic background. The message on the back offers a brief glimpse into the life of homesteaders, more than a century ago.

“My new $85.00 nickle trim med Harness. View from our house. Polson on the boom. Family well. C.M.S.”

 

E-mail Story   Print Story

 

One of my favorite things to grill is lamb and especially the leg. With all the great flavor of lamb chops or rack of lamb but usually costing half the price, a leg of lamb can be the perfect choice for entertaining groups of six-10. I like to season lamb in a variety of ways but my favorite is with Mediterranean flavors such as olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic and spices from Africa and the Middle East.

 

E-mail Story   Print Story

 

Life keeps taking interesting turns for Kalispell musician John Guymon, but like the experienced truck driver he is, Guymon knows how to roll with it.

Guymon recently signed on to Tate Music Group, a record label based in Oklahoma, which means he will record a solo album for distribution through the label. He’s also got a March 30 show at the Kalispell Eagles.

 

E-mail Story   Print Story

 

LIBBY – With fine furniture, delicate pottery and art from around the world, the display room at Cabinet Mountain Furniture, Pottery and Gifts may seem more at home in downtown Whitefish than Libby, a working-class town 60 miles to the west. And owner Christi Ellwood said that was the initial reaction she and her husband received when they opened the doors in 2005.

 

E-mail Story   Print Story

 

New York filmmaker Brian Bolster was backpacking through Glacier National Park when he came across a fire lookout. The solitary day-to-day lives of people living perched atop mountains, scanning the horizon for wildfires, intrigued Bolster. The result is a 16-minute award-winning documentary, titled “The Lookout.” Bolster spent six days and five nights single-handedly filming Leif Haugen, a fire lookout for the Flathead National Forest, as he performs his daily duties at the Thoma Lookout in the North Fork area near the Canadian Border.

The documentary has been gaining attention and awards at film festivals around the country. It won the top prize at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival held recently in Missoula.

“I had a hunch that lookouts have a special connection to not only the environment around them, but also to the structure in which they live and work,” Bolster says. “As I was shooting this project, I quickly learned that fire lookouts and the individuals that staff them are an important part of our nation’s history, and I really wanted to showcase their work to audiences who may not be familiar with their unique, yet often times unnoticed, role in fire management.”

Bolster’s film reflects on solitude and the expansive landscape using impressive cinematography. One of the true rewards of being a lookout is seen through Bolster’s lens – pitch black skies peppered with bright stars; a wide open gallery of illuminated sunsets and mountain ranges.

Bolster also highlights the importance of fire lookouts to wildfire management. Fire lookouts -- both the cabin structures and the individuals who station them — dot the landscape throughout the West, particularly in Montana. Flathead National Forest has four lookouts that are staffed every year during the summer and several others that can be staffed when needed.

“Fire lookouts are the quietest aspect of fire management, and many people may think we don’t staff them anymore,” Haugen says. “I hope this film helps to show that the lookout program is strong and well used in the fire management program, especially in the Flathead area. I’m very proud that my lookout friends, despite all having very different experiences based on the variety of settings they work in, have seen it and feel that the film does a good job of capturing the day in the life of a lookout experience.”

“The Lookout” is currently screening at various film festivals around the country. For more information and updates on the film, you can check out the films movie page on Facebook or email Brian Bolster at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

 

E-mail Story   Print Story

 

There are a handful of signs that mark the beginning of spring in Northwest Montana and one of them is the annual Creston Auction and County Fair. Held in the fields near MT Highway 35, as well as the Eastside Grange Hall and Creston School, the annual event is now in its 46th year.

On Saturday, March 31 the field near Creston School will be full of items to be auctioned off throughout the day. Meanwhile, inside the grange hall, a craft fair will feature handmade quilts, handbags, totes, baby clothes, toys, jewelry, beadwork and other crafts. Montana Coffee Traders will be on hand with breakfast and lunch items. There will also be food at the Creston School.

The auction and country fair is the Creston Fire Department's largest fundraiser.

The rummage and bake sale will kick off at 8 a.m. Saturday, and an hour later the craft fair and auction will begin. On Sunday, April 1, the auction will continue with cars, boats and other heavy equipment going up for bid at 12 p.m.

 

E-mail Story   Print Story