The Art Festival Doesn’t End On Sunday!
Can you believe it? Bigfork’s Art Festival is happening this weekend, August 1st and 2nd.
One of my favorite parts of working downtown is getting to watch Bigfork change with the seasons. This weekend, it transforms into one giant outdoor gallery for the Art Festival, and I look forward to it every year. There is so much artistic talent here in the valley. I love wandering from booth to booth and hearing people talk about what they create. You can tell how much heart goes into every piece. Whether you are just observing the booths, learning from vendors about their creative process, or jumping in line for the food trucks, there is a little something for everyone.
If you're coming to the Art Festival this weekend, I hope you'll make time to wander into a few of the downtown shops as well. Just because the street will be filled with people and art for the weekend, doesn’t mean it is over when Monday inevitably rolls around.
Downtown Bigfork is like an art festival every day. Go into any of the stores or galleries, and you will likely find the craftsmanship of a local artist. Stop in and see us in The Creek, Artisans, and The Artful Kitchen for some unique local finds.
In The Creek and Artisans, you will find Qarlie’s Art, by my good friend Karlie Williamson. She makes custom carved stamps and hand-stamps t-shirts and greeting cards. Because they are hand-stamped, there is a special handmade quality to these items. I personally have two of the four t-shirt designs we carry. Whenever I wear them, I always get so many compliments.
One of my favorite things about Artisans is the opportunity to introduce people to local artists they might not have discovered otherwise. Two that immediately come to mind are Dianne Hinkler and Judy Petterson.
Dianne has some beautiful watercolor and mixed-media greeting cards that are so detailed they deserve to be framed as art prints. She also wrote and illustrated a children’s book, “Jerome Flies Home”. Based on the true adventure of a curious Montana cat, as told from his perspective, I think it is such a sweet story with some beautifully done illustrations.
In a fusion of impressionistic photography and fabric, Judy has created stunning pieces of wearable art. She combines her vibrant contemporary impressionistic photo images with genuine 100% silk scarves. Each scarf is different, and there are countless ways to wear one, making them as versatile as they are beautiful. We also carry her impressionistic photography greeting cards and wall art.
On the other side of the street in The Artful Kitchen, you don’t want to miss out on experiencing the art of flavor with Olivelle’s oils and vinegars. Speaking from experience, these completely changed how I cook. I’m not much of a cook, but since I started working here, I think a good portion of my paycheck has ended up going toward building my own little "kitchen chemistry set" of oils and vinegars. They are great for marinades, salad dressings, and more! One of my favorite ways to use the Summer Peach Barrel Aged Balsamic is to drizzle it over vanilla ice cream; it's the perfect summer treat!
Whether you're spending the afternoon browsing the festival, grabbing lunch from a food truck, or simply wandering through downtown, I hope you'll stop in and say hello. One of the best parts of living and working in Bigfork is getting to share the people and products that make this place special, and all of us would love to help you discover something new this weekend.
Until next time,
Soraya
My Real Montana