Art & Activism
Missoula
December 6, 2024
5:00 pm
The Confluence Center (Western Montana's Home for Nonprofit Events) art program Torrents is thrilled to present a bonus art exhibit in our Bitterroot Room entitled Art & Activism.
This exhibit is the culmination of a course offered this fall at UM's Davidson Honors College on Art & Activism, by Prof. Amy Ragsdale. Half of the students' final projects are being shown here at the Confluence Center and half at the ZACC. They are thrilled to have this opportunity to show their work to the wider Missoula community.
The goal of the class was to encourage students to channel their energy, whether caused by concern, frustration or excitement, over issues they see in the world around them into artmaking - dance, visual art or theater. The aim is to use that art to raise awareness, educate, move a viewer emotionally or intellectually and ultimately create change. But the question then is how does one, as an artist, help the viewer of one's work actually take the steps one would like them to take -- donate, vote, write a politician or letter to the editor? This class attempts to address both how to successfully engage a viewer in a topic one cares about and then help them take those final steps. Some students are majoring in an art form, others are not.
You will see here:
a dance-for-camera choreographed and performed by Josie Caringi and Taylor Ferguson on the possible delisting of grizzly bears;
a projected photo essay by Marrin Kolczak-Hardy addressing the varied views of motherhood;
a videotape of a dance performed live, choreographed by Grazia Novak and Kerrigan Edwards about the treatment of women in our healthcare system;
a photo essay by Gabe Regelbrugge on the effects of excessive screen time on youth;
a collage by Ashtyn Wagner about Blackfeet family ties;
and a painting addressing suicide among young children in the U.S. by Ava Stansbury.
Also in conjunction with this exhibit will be our biggest group show of the year, Solstice, featuring artwork by 60 regional artists! Withlive music by Madeleine Tucker and festive treats, this will be the perfect way to start off your Holidays with a bang!
Reception will be First Friday, December 6th, 5-8pm at the Confluence Center at 119 W Main St, Missoula, MT. Solstice will remain on display through January 31st and can be seen by appointment through the center: 406-926-6526
For more information about the Confluence Center, please contact Ruth Crystal at megand@headwatersmt.org. For more information about art events at the Confluence Center, please contact Elisha Harteis at elishaharteis@gmail.com or Lillian Nelson at thedelusionalartist2@gmail.com.