Art Crossing Sculpture Park showcases diverse works, something for everybody
BOZEMAN, Mont. — If you stroll through downtown Bozeman, slow down and check out the public art.
Scattered about are 50 to 60 sculptures, all with their own unique stories.
The Gallatin Art Crossing Sculpture Park may be one of Bozeman's most intriguing amenities.
NBC Montana met Quiana and Chris Conlon on the pathway at the Bozeman Public Library.
"As you walk along the pathway there are sculptures on both sides," said Quiana. "You get to see what our community embraces."
"It's refreshing," said Chris. "We come for a walk through the park and get to see very different sculptures from all kinds of different artists."
This is 'Cartoon,' by Steve Connell, said Gallatin Art Crossing president Jim Zimpel, as he pointed to a large, bright yellow sculpture. "It's part of the larger collection that we have here at the library."
The non-profit group brings diverse art projects to Bozeman.
Its board is made up of a contingent of professionals from different backgrounds, including sculpting, fabrication, furniture making and graphic design.
Some of the artists whose work is featured are local.
But, said Jim, "we also do a national call. We put out a call for artists who make sculptures that can survive outside."
They loan their work to the group for about three years.
Some of the sculptures are permanent.
Gary Bates's steel and iron 'Red Whirly' is one such sculpture.
It's featured in front of the library.
Another is 'Kids on a Bench.'
It is of a girl and boy reading a book just outside the library in an area that's been set aside for kids.
There's a nearby sign that welcomes "all children, fairies, elves, gnomes and other magical creatures."
Art Crossing doesn't know who sculpted this old work.
But it welcomes information from anyone who might know.
'Egghead' is especially popular at the library.
Kimber Fiebiger's bronze work features a bald, chubby, smiling 'egghead' reading his book on a bench.
Texas sculptor Joe Barrington's 'Trickster' stands prominently near the entrance to the library.
It won the People's Choice award in 2021.
You can't miss it.
It's made from blown out tires on the highway.
Reached by phone in Texas, Joe told us it's his take on the damage we are doing to our environment.
"We throw everything away," he said. " We wreak havoc on the environment. That's what the Trickster's message is for me."
Joe has another raven a few blocks away at the Emerson Center for Arts and Culture.
It's called 'The Messenger.'
The sculptor appreciates Native American's reverence for ravens.
Joe said his birds are tricksters, shapeshifters and story tellers.
"I use it in my work to express my views about man's place in the environment," he said, "about our throwaway society."
The appearance of the sculptures differ with the seasons.
They change with light and shadow.
"What's really great about these sculptors," said Jim, "is you get to see them in different lighting and different backgrounds and colors of sky."
"This is called 'Big Wet Dog,' by Matt Babcock," said Jim as we moved from the library to downtown. "It's one of the pieces that goes up and down Main Street."
The blue dog always gets a lot of attention.
"These are opportunities for people to see art in public when they're shopping or walking around," said Jim. "it is a great way to put art into people's everyday life here in Bozeman."
Many of the works are mobile, like Danny Kraus's 'Windcatcher' at Emerson.
These sculptors are meant to be eyed closely, to be touched, and even played with.
'Turning Stone' by Pete Stecher is one such work of art.
This piece is carved stone and bronze with steel," said Jim.
He swiped his hand to rotate the rock perched on a pedestal.
"It's pretty amazing," he said, " to think about this really heavy rock that can turn so easily."
Most of the sculptures are bold.
You can see them from a distance.
Others are more illusive, like Dana Kuglin's 'Chameleon.'
It's easy to miss.
You need to look up into a second story brick building to find it.
But there it is, pretty much the same color as the building,
Being Bozeman, so many of the sculptures are covered with snow. But that's part of the magic.
When the snow melts in the spring they will unveil something brand new.
