LIVINGSTON — Livingston, Montana has a rich and complex history, with a vibrant art community that has been flourishing for nearly 35 years through the annual Livingston Art Walk. This event showcases the talent of local artists and gives them a platform to showcase their work.
“It’s a big part of a story of shifting from a primarily railroad town to now. I know at one point the state referred to it as a creative cluster; in fact, they studied it because of that,” says Laura Bray, the owner of Frame Garden in Livingston.
Bray’s business is one of the venues hosting local artists for the art walk. She recently featured emerging artist Allie Louise and her debut solo series, “Under a Western Sky,” which showcases Montana-inspired animals and landscapes.
“So, I actually went to school for pre-med and when COVID happened, I kind of started dabbling in art again,” says Louise.
Louise realized during her pre-med studies that she craved more creativity in her life.
Bray mentions that Allie Louise is one of the few artists she’s seen creating hyper-realistic drawings using pastels.
“One thing about pastel that has really intrigued me is that you obviously can accomplish a photo-realistic style with them, which a lot of people don’t do with pastels,” Louise explains.
Downtown Tourism Director Kris King emphasizes how art allows individuals to express their interpretation of the world around them.
“The power of the arts is really to tell the contemporary story of people living here now, what they’re experiencing, and that is all the underpinning and foundation of the history of the area,” she states.
For aspiring artists, Allie encourages them to “Just take the leap of faith. I know that sounds so cliché but it’s so true because I honestly would not be here with this show had I not done that to begin with.”
The Livingston Art Walk kicks off on Friday, July 26, 2024. Visit the website for more information.
