the Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture
 
 

EMERSON E-NEWS: MAY   

Contribute Now
 
 
 
   


 
COMING UP
 

 
Give Big with Bob
Thursday, May 3

There are still a few spots left for the largest community painting class in the valley! The Emerson, Sweet Pea Festival, and S.L.A.M. are joining forces again for Give Big Gallatin Valley with " Give Big with Bob" and " Little Bobs Give Big".

Three sessions will be offered in the Emerson Ballroom, each taught by a local artist. Pre-registration is required and there is a class fee to cover materials and expenses. Beer and wine will be available for purchase in sessions 2 and 3. Big hair, big hearts, and big fun are all encouraged!

Give Big with Bob Session 1
Little Bobs Give Big- 4-5:30PM, $10

Give Big with little Bobs will be an afterschool session open to children wishing to support their community and paint. Children are encouraged to show their support and may make a donation of any size. All young artists must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

 
Give Big with Bob Session 2
Painting with Bob and Beer- 6-8PM, $30

Give Big with Bob Session 3

Painting with Bob and Beer- 8-10PM, $30

  
 


 
 
Give Big Gallatin Valley
May 3 & 4 
6PM-6PM

We have a BIG goal this year, and we need your help! Please help us raise $18,000 in just 24 hours!
Here's a few ways you can GIVE BIG!
  • Join us for Give Big With Bob and paint a happy little tree, enjoy a tasty beverage, and make a donation to support the Emerson.
  • Donate online Thursday, May 3 at 6PM through Friday, May 4 at 6PM. 
  • Stop by our office and make your donation.
  • Make your gift at First Interstate Bank downtown from 10AM until 3PM Friday.
  • Drop by the Rocking R Bar from 11:30AM until 6PM and get a buy one get one free drink coupon with your donation! 
 


 
 
Emerson Open House & Birthday Celebration
May 11, 2018
5-8PM  

Help us celebrate two tremendous milestones for the Emerson! This year, the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture turns 25 and our historic building turns 100! Please join us for the festivities and celebrate a legacy of learning that began in this building one century ago. Enjoy live music and refreshments while you visit with tenants throughout the building, take a look at our new exhibits, and shop in Galleria Hall. We look forward to seeing you!  
 
 
 


 
 
Opening Exhibit Reception
May 11, 2018
5-8PM   

In conjunction with our Open House, we are thrilled to host the opening reception for our newest exhibits. Did you know the Emerson's Pottery Studio is named after Frances Senska and our premier gallery is named after Jessie Wilber? Do you know why these women were chosen to be honored in this way? The upcoming exhibit in our Jessie Wilber Gallery will answer these questions- and more! The Emerson wouldn't be where we are today without the determination, vision, and talent of a small group of artists. It is our honor to showcase their work in our upcoming exhibit appearing in the Lobby Gallery. Stop by to pay tribute to all of these individuals who made the Emerson who we are today!
 
 
 


 
 
Summer Art Education 
 
Try something new, you might surprise yourself! As stated by Jennifer O'Connor, one of our art education participants, "I've spent too much of my life worrying that art is only for artists.  The Emerson makes art exploration approachable, even to left-brained old gals like me!"

We still have spots available in our summer art education classes. For more information please visit our website; to register, call 406-587-9797 x104.
 
 


 
 
Kids' Summer Camps
 
The Emerson offers a variety of fun, week-long summer camps for children ages 4-12. Campers will explore diverse hands-on art projects taking inspiration from the theme for the week. Students will also get plenty of fresh air spending the lunch hour and break times outdoors on the Emerson Lawn (weather permitting). Half day and full day options for ages 4-7; Full day for ages 8-12. Camps are filling up quickly so sign up soon!

For more information please visit our website; to register, call 406-587-9797 x104.
 
 


 
 
Call for Art

This summer, the Emerson is hosting a juried group exhibition titled, AMPLIFIED the Art of Music. The goal of this innovative exhibit is to make visible the unique power of music. Artists of all mediums and musical preference are encouraged to apply. Show us how the beat of your drum inspires the stroke of your brush!

Download full details
 
 
 

 
RECENT HAPPENINGS

 

 

Emerson Lawn 

We are scheduled to close close on the Emerson Lawn property in less than a month, but we are far from being finished. To purchase the property without having to incur additional debt, we still need to raise an additional $300,000.

Please consider a donation to assist with the purchase, improvement, & maintenance of the Emerson Lawn. 
 
We can accept payment via cash, check, credit card, or gifts of stock. Donations can be made: 
-
ONLINE
- At our front office, Monday-Friday from 9-5
- Over the phone: 406-587-9797 x100
- Mailed to 111 South Grand Ave., Bozeman 59715

We can't thank you enough for your support to preserve this community treasure!
 
 

 
FEATURED TENANT
 
 
MARK LOGAN GUITAR LESSONS
 
 
Mark Logan may be the Emerson's longest tenant- he has been here for 25 years! Mark teaches guitar lessons, plays solo classical guitar, and plays with cellist Kyle Brenner in the Brenner / Logan Duo. Mark has enjoyed his time at the Emerson immensely due to the beautiful historic building, perfect central location, lots of events, and great people! He shared that there are few things more enjoyable than sitting in the hallways of the Emerson playing classical guitar when it's quiet. When not playing music, Mark enjoys running, reading science fiction, and watching the Dallas Cowboys lose every year (his words, not ours!).
   

 
FEATURED EXHIBITS
 

 




Jessie Wilber Gallery
Memories Collected; Works by Frances Senska, Jessie Wilber & Friends  
May 11 - June 29, 2018
 
The Jessie Wilber Gallery is hosting an exhibit featuring works by Frances Senska and Jessie Wilber this May and June. Works were selected from Frances's private collection, which is now maintained and graciously loaned by Shelburn Murray, to reflect various time periods in each artist's life. Multiple mediums will be featured alongside historical documents and other local artist's work whose friendship and art inspired them both. Come and pay homage to these remarkable women and learn why they're such important historical figures in the Gallatin Valley.  
  
 

Lobby Gallery
First Generation Tenants 1993 - 1995;
A selection of the Emerson's first tenant artists
May 11 -  June 29, 2018 
 
 
The Emerson began its journey as a nonprofit art and cultural center in 1993. At that time 20 or so artists called this building home. Hundreds of hours were spent tirelessly renovating the classrooms of this old schoolhouse into beautiful, functioning artist studios and galleries. To reconnect with the Emerson's origins, we have reached out to original artists who had studios here between 1993 - 1995 and invited them to exhibit work in the Emerson's Lobby Gallery. We are excited to share their personal histories, stories, and work with the community during the Emerson's anniversary celebrations. 
 


Weaver Room Gallery
Trophies by Mary Ann Bonjorni 
May 4 - June 22, 2018 

Artist Mary Ann Bonjorni's interest in the West and Western society developed long before "Last Best Place" espresso bars and t-shirts. Like many contemporary regional writers, Mary Ann arrived at her artistic pursuit through personal investigations into family and place, integrating the information into her studio practice. Having supported herself as a farm worker, commercial fisherman, bartender and range rider, she has literally and figuratively sweated out any romantic notions about "western-ness". For Bonjorni, these experiences are about physicality and solace amidst a beautiful natural environment, as well as being about customs, economic stress, injury, cycles of birth an d death, tenacity, and beating the odds.
 
 
All of our galleries are free and open to the public.
 
 

 
EVENTS

MAY
3
Give Big Gallatin Valley  
May 3 & 4
6PM-6PM 
Join us for the various Give Big festivities throughout this 24-hour celebration of giving!
MAY
10
The Messenger
7PM  
The Messenger is a visually thrilling ode to the beauty and importance of the imperiled songbird, and what it means to all of us on both a global and human level if we lose them.
MAY
11
Emerson Open House & Birthday Celebration 
5-8PM  
Celebrate Spring and check out what's new at the Emerson at our annual Open House & Birthday Celebration. Enjoy live music and refreshments while you view our exhibits, visit with the tenants throughout the building, and shop in Galleria Hall. We encourage kids and adults of all ages to come help us celebrate our 25th birthday!
CLASSES

MAY
2
Little HeARTs (ages 2-5) 
10-11AM 
Each week will feature a project using different themes and materials for you and your child to work on together. Images, demonstrations, books, and music will all be used to help direct your artwork and inspire creativity.
MAY
3
Give Big With Bob   
4-10PM  
Kick off Give Big Gallatin Valley with the largest community painting class in the valley! Three sessions will be offered in the Emerson Ballroom, each taught by a local artist.
MAY
8
Spring Life Drawing (ages 18+)
6-8PM
Draw from live models! Artist of all ability levels are welcome. No preregistration necessary and participants should provide their own drawing supplies.
 

 

INSIDE THE EMERSON

 
 

Emerson History

The Emerson is a thriving arts and community center located a block from historic downtown Bozeman. The building was originally an elementary school built in 1918, attended by thousands of Bozeman youth before its closure in 1991.

Read More

Support the Emerson

At the Emerson, we are grateful for the generous community support that allows us to serve as a vital arts hub in Bozeman. Over 250,000 people have come to the Emerson each year to attend performances, take classes, and participate in community events.

Donate

Volunteer with the Emerson

As a community arts hub, the Emerson relies on the time, energy and enthusiasm donated by community volunteers and interns. You can get involved by becoming a docent, by helping with events, children's classes or in our office.

Apply Now
 
 
 
 
the Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture

111 South Grand Ave.   |   Bozeman, MT   |   406.587.9797   |   office@theEmerson.org