Art for the People

Columbia Falls may soon have its own art center. Box Elder art teacher Jemina Watstein plans to have the Columbia Falls Community Arts Center open by summer, she said last week. Watstein used to work in the Kalispell School District and in Germany for a while, before moving to Box Elder.

Watstein and her husband Fred own property near Columbia Falls, where they will be living full-time when her job in Box Elder ends. Their children are Oziah, 7, and Frieda, 4.

Since before 2011 she has thought that Columbia Falls needed an art center. She noticed the recent renovation and new businesses in the town and decided it was time to commit to the idea.

“I think it’s a good time to bring it into the community,” Watstein said.

The center is already registered as a non-profit, it just needs a location and board members.

Her goal is to have the first board meeting in April, rent a place in May, have the first exhibit in June and start an art walk that coincides with the farmers’ markets on the first Thursday of the month. She sees potential for the growth of an art walk with the local businesses that display art such as Three Forks Grille and Montana Coffee Traders

“It’s sort of like a YMCA for artists,” Watstein said.

There could be after school art classes and continuing education for adults. Patrons would pay a small fee to use studio spaces for watercolor, acrylic, clay, sculpture and other visual arts. However she wants to leave the possibility for other arts, such as drama.

“I want it to be what the community wants,” Watstein said. “I’m not doing it for me.”

She wants the community to guide and shape it. There was an introductory kick-off last week at Backslope Brewing.

Local art teachers Kate Daniels at Columbia Falls High School and Eric Hanson at Glacier Gateway Elementary have been helpful in forming ideas for the center. She has also talked to local artists who are interested in a studio rental place.

One of the center’s board members is Jenny Bevill, who moved to Whitefish a couple of years ago. Bevel worked in the art education department at a New York City’s Guggenheim Museum for 20 years.

The application to become a board member is on the center’s website, columbiafallsartscenter.weebly.com. Email Watstein questions and suggestions at cfcac.director@gmail.com.

A drop box for donations is currently at Backslope Brewing and will be traveling around the city as well.