Photographers capture ‘The Last Best Place’

Juried exhibit opens at Old Main Gallery & Framing

EBS STAFF

Old Main Gallery & Framing in downtown Bozeman hosted an opening reception for the 15 finalists of the first annual juried photography exhibition “Montana: The Last Best Place” on April 7.

As the title of the exhibit suggests, “Montana: The Last Best Place” is primarily a landscape exhibit featuring 15 artists and 17 photographs. Traditionally, landscape photography addresses nature in its pristine state with no human presence. There are however, works that express the historic culture of the West. Steven B. Jackson, curator of art and photography for the Museum of the Rockies, pointed out that some of the submissions addressed contemporary issues in that they depict how the human relationship with the land can be political and cultural.

“The sensual experience of changing seasons is one of the most notable features of living in ‘The Last Best Place,’” writes Belgrade-area photographer Tim Crawford. ‘Bridgers in Four Seasons,’ a finalist in a new exhibit at Old Town Gallery & Framing is a series that explores the same vantage point at different times of year. PHOTO BY TIM CRAWFORD

The winning photograph will contain a combination of the photographer’s unique interpretation of the theme “Montana: The Last Best Place,” and demonstrate a successful marriage of creative vision and subject matter.

A call for entries for “The Last Best Place” was sent out in December with a Feb. 4 submissions deadline. Thirty photographers from around the state and even one from California answered the call with a total of 104 submissions (each photographer was allowed up to five entries).

Jackson juried the entries and announced the 15 finalists on March 3.

“Montana: The Last Best Place” will be on display through April and all photographs will be for sale. Old Main Gallery & Framing is located at 129 E. Main Street in downtown Bozeman.