Pam Houston - August - The Purple Pomegranate

The Purple Pomegranate, a fine craft specialty store, is featuring work by Ulm painter, Pam Houston during the month of August. Houston, a native Montanan, paints her world with transparent watercolor and oils and acrylics. Interested in the creative arts from an early age, she honed her skills in a wide variety of mediums at the Kansas City Art Institute. For seven years Pam threw pots as a trade, but gave up the clay and wheel for the paintbrush.

Since then, Pam has experimented with watercolors, acrylics, pastels, and oils. "I really like to draw; I hope that my love of drawing shows up in my paintings. Usually the subject itself dictates the medium. Oil is easier to use outside, gives me more time, and I can get some nice textures with it." Currently I am having a lot of fun with acrylics. Drawing from her experiences living and growing up in Montana, Pam's paintings celebrate her passions, lifestyle, and environment. Pam says “I like to paint people, people doing things, working and playing.”

Pam lives with her husband on the Missouri River near Ulm, MT, a small farming community next to Great Falls. Here, they enjoy canoeing, gardening, hunting, and fishing. Between the beautiful location on the river and the amount of outdoor activity available just outside the front door, Pam is never without subject matter.

Meet Pam during Whitefish Gallery Night, Thursday, August 5th, 2010 from 6-9 PM. Pam’s work will be displayed during the opening and throughout the month of August.

Bird's Eye View at Stumptown Art Studio from Aug 5 - Sept 1

Stumptown Art Studio is featuring artists Carolyn Churchouse and Kristie Caratelli in Bird's Eye View, a collaborative show of their work. Opening reception is on August 5 during the regular First Thursday Gallery Nights from 6-9 p.m. Bird's Eye View is on display through September 1, 2010.

Carolyn Churchouse, primarily a clay artist, combines some of her work for this show with other materials to create, unusual, whimsical pieces. She draws on past times in her life for inspiration, and this time, is traveling back to 1972. That year was a turning point in her life that took her from childhood dreams to adult realities and to the realization that music would be her muse. Her pieces have a free-flowing rhythm.

Trees, funny ladies and of course birds have found their way onto Krisitie Caratelli's canvas once again. She finds liberation in not being confined to one medium when working and uses text mixed with found objects, paint and recycled paper. Inspiration for this show came from a feeling of transformation when birds take flight.

In the heart of Whitefish is the non-profit community art center Stumptown Art Studio. It was founded in 1995 to offer art opportunities for all ages and art interests including: classes, workshops, camps, art parties, an artists' co-operative, painting pottery and glass fusing in the Ceramics Annex, art gifts, retail art supplies and exhibits.

Exhibits hosted at Stumptown Art Studio feature guest artists, group displays, student work, new works and provide exhibition space for emerging artists. The public is invited to stop by and enjoy this year's 2010 First Thursday Gallery Nights season between 6 and 9 p.m. during the opening receptions or for a month following anytime during regular open hours.