The Making Place looks to set up shop at Uptown Hearth
Making Place President Justin Barry at the Uptown Hearth location last week. The plan is to turn the space into a community studio for artists and craftsmen in the valley.
The Making Place, a nonprofit collective of artists, craftsmen and designers is expanding its presence in Columbia Falls with plans to lease the entire third floor of the Uptown Hearth building.
The 501 (c) 3 nonprofit started up a couple of years ago as a way for practicing artists and craftsmen and creators to collaborate and hone their skills, rather than each person having to go it alone.
They are doing a series of events this spring in Columbia Falls to spread the word about the nonprofit opening a community makerspace early this summer.
The idea is to have studios, shared tools, and simply a place to bounce ideas off each other at Uptown Hearth, founding member and president Justin Barry said last week.
Barry is a mechanical engineer by trade, but came to Montana a few years ago to work with the Montana Conservation Corps. He then developed his craft into a business making things like a wallet that’s made from old ski skins, or bicycle bags from “upcycled” as opposed to recycled, materials.
The wallet, for example, has a cool device that opens and closes it.
After talking with other artists and craftsmen across the Flathead, “we saw a need for a shared studio space,” he said.
The nonprofit is all volunteers and is hosting several workshops and events this spring and summer.
For example, on Saturday, March 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. they be having an event where people can learn collage, cross stitch or the art of block print making at the studio at Uptown Hearth.
Cost is $15 per experience.
On March 25, it’s hosting a free craft night at the Whitefish Community Center from 7 to 11 p.m. on East Second Street and then on April 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Uptown Hearth Kay Lyle will host a workshop on letterpress printing, where participants can make small posters by using vintage wood type and ink. The cost of that session is $30.
Most of the events are also appropriate for entire families.
They also plan on hosting future artist and craftsmen talks and will launch a membership program in April.
In addition, the plan is to have tool and equipment rentals. For example, one studio might have a camera and other gear so artists can photograph their work, another might have hand tools so a person can work on a project at the studio.
The hope is to raise $35,000 this year toward the Uptown Hearth space. For more information on the Making Place, visit https://www.themakingplacemt.com/