Buffalo Jelly is one of Dzintars’ acrylic paintings based off of a bike ride through a bison jam in Yellowstone National Park. PHOTO COURTSEY OF KELSEY DZINTARS
BOZEMAN
– Every April, after months of sitting dormant under the snowpack, the roads of
Yellowstone National Park are a road biker’s paradise. Free of motor vehicle
traffic, visitors are granted with the surreal experience of riding through a
serene landscape teeming with its wild, year-round residents. One group in
particular, dressed in festive tutus, are met by a bison jam and, after patience
yielded no progress, a ranger waved them through, imploring them to continue
their ride directly through the herd.
This
scene—a tiny human figure clad in a splash of pink, weaving through the towering
bovine— is brought to life by Bozeman artist Kelsey Dzintars in her piece “Bison
Jelly,” one of the featured acrylic works on display at her show “Moments of
the Infinite,” hosted starting on Feb. 14 in the Emerson Center for the Arts
and Culture’s Lobby Gallery.
For
Dzintars, the infinite is about being consumed by the space between dream and
reality.
“It’s
about specific moments when you’re awestruck,” said Dzintars. “For me its when
I’m in nature, or doing something active where I’m overwhelmed. It catches me.
I have to paint this.”
Which is exactly how Bison Jelly, and many of her other pieces, come to life—after her friends told her about their bison jam bike ride through Yellowstone, she had to paint it. “It’s about facing your fears and to look good doing it,” she said of the finished product.
Kelsey Dzintars’ acrylic paintings capture her “soul-invigorating” experiences while living in the Northern Rockies. Her collection of work is hanging in the Emerson Center for Arts & Culture’s Lobby Gallery. PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY DZINTARS
Dzintars
has been painting her entire life and quickly found a way to make art a part of
her living. A Rapid City, South Dakota native, she has an impressive background
in graphic design, including a degree from Montana State University, extensive work
for Outlaw Partners, publisher of this newspaper, Arete Skis, OARS Whitewater
and Boundary Expeditions. As someone who draws inspiration from nature, she
prioritizes her relationship with that muse by spending summers working as a river
guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
Finding
the right balance between her career in graphics and pursuing her passion for painting
is an important part of Dzintars’ identity—it wasn’t until 2015 when she made
the conscious decision to make the latter a major part of her path.
Today,
she’s careful about her practice, making it a habit to paint first thing in the
morning so as to guard those first few hours for herself.
When
discussing the “infinite” as a theme in her show, she aptly references Van
Gogh, whose whimsical approach to the natural world would relate with
Dzintars’, perhaps had he spent some time in the American West. Both, too, are
strong advocates for their subject matter.
“When
people find an emotional connection to the places that they’re playing in or
experiencing, that forces action or behavior. It drives the desire to then save
it,” said Dzintars, a staunch advocate for conservation.
“Moments
of the Infinite” is a strong collection of Dzintars’ contemporary western,
acrylic landscapes. The artists fearlessly uses bold colors in a way that
enhances without overwhelming, and her gallery is a refreshing palette in an
area that tends to lean toward classic styles. A patron will find familiar
scenes including Boiling River in Yellowstone, Hyalite Canyon and Storm Castle
Peak, as well as some stunning pieces such as “Protection,” which features a
large animal skull as a centerpiece set against a rugged mountain landscape, her
most recent project.
“Art
is about connecting with people in a different language that gets a person
thinking differently,” says Dzintars.
Meet
Kelsey at her “Moments of the Infinite” gallery opening on Friday, Feb. 14 at 5
p.m.—her work will remain in the Emerson Lobby in Bozeman through May 3.
Embrace the freedom and
serenity of movement in nature with our rejuvenating morning yoga class on the
Mountain Lawn. Allow the fresh mountain air and gentle guided yoga practice
Event Details
Embrace the freedom and
serenity of movement in nature with our rejuvenating morning yoga class on the
Mountain Lawn. Allow the fresh mountain air and gentle guided yoga practice to
invigorate your day of adventure ahead. Complimentary.Weather
permitting.
Time
June 1 (Saturday) 7:00 am - August 31 (Saturday) 7:00 am
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
June 10 (Monday) 6:00 pm - August 19 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
June 17 (Monday) 6:00 pm - August 26 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description information. Please wear layers, bring water and snacks. Bear spray recommended.
Time
June 24 (Monday) 9:00 am - August 26 (Monday) 12:00 pm