BOZEMAN — Art and a community discussion about the city’s growth is taking place under one roof.
TINWORKS Art is a pop-up art exhibition located in the Northeast Neighborhood of Bozeman, inside an abandoned warehouse.
The summer-long exhibition seeks to bring the community together through art and dialogue, featuring artist from Montana and around the country.
The project is sponsored by the Story Mill Art non-profit organization.
"There’s a rich history of artist using spaces that are going to be torn down or that have been abandoned to create new works and to show their work," said Eli Ridgway, a trustee with Story Mill Art.
"Knowing about this space, we felt it was a great opportunity to bring in artists to allow them to do pieces that you can’t do in an art gallery, you can’t do in a museum."
The art exhibition is located in a part of Bozeman that's known for its historical, eclectic charm, and is on the future site of a new commercial and real estate development that will include affordable housing options.
Currently on display at TINWORKS Art is the PhotovoicesNE exhibit, which provides a timely opportunity for members of the Northeast Neighborhood to share what they love most about where they live, and address it’s future changes.
"We asked neighbors to take photos of things they love about the neighborhood and want to preserve into the future," said Amy Kelley Hoitsma, President of the Northeast Neighborhood Association.
"And then we invited the viewers that come in to add their own voices to the wall as they’re inspired by what the neighbors have said."
The end goal of this community-driven art project is to define the character of the neighborhood residents hope to preserve as Bozeman continues to grow, and to formally present these findings to the city.
"I think a lot of the people, especially city officials and commissioners who have come to see the exhibit and participate are really interested in this whole exhibit as a tool for community involvement," said Kelley Hoitsma.
The PhotovoicesNE exhibit will be open Friday, August 16th from 3-6pm and Saturday, August 17th from 10am-6pm.
TINWORKS Ar will also be featuring the work of Billings resident Bently Spang.
The event is free and open to the public.
