Current Exhibits
March 24 - 26
WILLISTON AREA WOODWORKERS CLUB
in Gallery II
STOP IN THE WEEKEND OF mARCH 24-26 TO VIEW THE CLUB’S BEAUTIFULLY HANDCRAFTED ITEMS.
FRIDAY 10 AM - 7 PM, SATURDAY 10 AM - 7 PM, SUNDAY NOON - 4 PM
January 30th - March 3rd
Lee Silliman
"Homestead Fever: Celebrating the Early Settlers of the High Plains"
in Gallery I & II
The James Memorial Art Center is proud to present “Lee Silliman - Homestead Fever: Celebrating the Early Settlers of The High Plains”. The exhibit will feature the photographic work of renowned educator, photographer, and archivist, Lee Silliman. This beautiful exhibit features black and white photographs of the remnants of Montana’s Homestead Era of the early 20th century. The exhibition will open on Monday, January 30th.
The settlers who advanced upon the northern high plains struggled to establish homesteads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The lure of owning land at minimal cost - but at great labor - was forcefully enticing. In the face of formidable odds against them, including drought, wind, cold, remoteness, and primitive tools, these determined people established homes, plated fields and gardens, and raised livestock. Climatic conditions and economic forces often conspired against them. Many persevered, and many sold out and moved on.
“As a former resident of Montana’s Judith Basin, I have long admired these stalwart people. Recently I have returned with my 8x10” view camera to record their rapidly diminishing remnants. Their abandoned structures and rusting machinery, set against the immensity of sky and land, evoke in me a profound respect for their courage and resiliency. May these images honor their frontier spirit.” - Lee Silliman
This exhibit consists of black & white contact print photographs taken by Lee Silliman with his 8 x 10 inch view camera over six years in Central Montana. The exhibit presents views of long abandoned homestead dwellings, aging barns, old machinery like combines, tractors and road graders, school buildings, horse collars and tack still hanging in sheds, vintage trucks, wooden grain wagons, and old grain elevators. These photographs were taken thanks to many private landowners who gave permission to record homesteading era remnants on their property. The exhibit includes quotation panels which relate the historical context of the times.
An Opening Reception will be held on Friday, February 3rd, from 7 - 8:30 PM. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
North Dakota Student Juried Art Show in Gallery I & II
Each spring, teachers of K-12 in North Dakota schools select student art work to enter in the North Dakota Juried Student Art Show, which is juried at the Taube Museum of Art in Minot.
Of the 610 entries for this year, jurors selected three pieces for the Governor’s Award, to be hung in Governor Doug Burgum’s office, four for the State of the Arts Award, sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer, four for the Northern Visions Award, sponsored by Senator John Hoeven, and five for the Congressional Art Award, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Armstrong. These Selections will be hung in their offices the following year.
An additional 100 selections, including the Taube Museum of Art award winners, the People’s Choice, and Spotlight award winners, become a traveling exhibit for the following year.
Jurors for 2022-2023 were Justin Anderson, Director of the Minot Area Council on the Arts, and Arvin K. Davis Jr., artist and educator.
Please join us at a reception to celebrate our Williston-area award winning artists on Sunday, January 22nd, from 3-4 PM!