PechaKucha
February 19 @ 6:40pm
At his death in October 1999, Alex Lowe was considered the best climber in
the world. The climbing legend put up new routes in the ice features of
Hyalite Canyon and the tallest peaks in the world, but it was his
infectious spirit that drew others to him on his daring adventures.
In 2003-2004, Terry Cunningham, current Bozeman mayor, spearheaded the
arduous and ultimately successful effort to have a peak south of Bozeman
and west of Mount Blackmore named in honor of Alex.
Terry is one of 11 presenters at the next PK Night at the Ellen Theatre
Wednesday, Feb. 19 and Thursday, Feb. 20. Both nights feature the same
speakers.
One-hundred-year-old rocket scientist, Congressional Gold Medal Winner and
docent at the Museum of the Rockies for 34 years, Maury Irvine will present
on his travels with famed dinosaur expert Jack Horner. A veteran PK
presenter, Maury will describe his experiences with Jack in Mongolia,
Romania, Kenya, Patagonia and Egg Mountain in Montana.
Dave Carlson will regale us with stories of the ups and downs he and his
wife experienced over the past seven years in their search for innovative
ways to keep their heat pumps working, their electric snowblower and car
charged and their food cooked.
Trying to make a living in a challenging environment is nothing new to our
local beaver population. Frank Marchak says the plethora of beavers in the
Gallatin Valley created an ecosystem supporting a wide range of
biodiversity. But Bozeman’s rapid development has had a dramatic impact on
the number of beavers and the size of wetlands. This can be fixed, says
Marchak, who argues that beavers are “dam good neighbors.”
Jim Madden and Steve Novel will tell the story of the grass-roots citizens
collective, See Bozeman Creek. The group was started in 2020, to ask, “What
if Bozeman Creek, as it flows downtown, became a cultural, environmental,
and community asset in downtown, rather than a degraded and neglected
liability?”
Looking skyward, Pat Hansen, who gives stargazing presentations at the
Museum of the Rockies Planetarium, will show us why stargazing under
Montana’s clear, dark skies is an incredible way to connect with the
universe and to reflect on our place within it.
Back on the ground, Morgan Estberg challenges the cultural norm of
maintaining turf grass lawns by looking at its history as a status symbol
that now persists in modern America. Morgan asks us to consider other
options that benefit our local ecosystem.
Gennifre Hartman, head of school at Headwaters Academy, asks us to
reconsider another part of our lives—how we travel. Rather than focus on
Instagram-worthy moments, she calls for us to embrace unscripted moments,
build community, and foster genuine connection.
Ken Sinay, an interpretive guide in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem for
more than 30 years, gives us an inside look at the intimate connection to
the landscape possessed by William Clark and Sacagawea and lacking in most
travelers today.
The February PechaKucha Night also will feature two presentations on
art. Sreyroth Johnson (Sunflower), a Montessori School teacher and Nalisa Chea, an MSU
student, share their love of Cambodian art and Apsara dance.
In an effort to broaden communication with a women’s farmer co-op in
Senegal, Bruce Barnhart helped to introduce drawing to the people of
Ndangane Village. In “The Art of the Stick Figure,” Barnhart will describe
how drawing proved to be an engaging way to communicate across language and
culture.
Writer, funnyman, puppeteer and manager of the Great Rocky Mountain Toy
Store Ryan Cassavaugh will emcee.
Presenting sponsor is Gallatin Valley Earth day.
PechaKucha offers anyone with a passion or a vision–designers, artists,
inventors, architects, adventurers, entrepreneurs—an opportunity to share
their ideas with the community during a fast-paced, friendly social
get-together. There’s just one catch—presenters have only 20 slides x 20
seconds each, a total of 6 minutes, 40 seconds!
Tickets are available at theellentheatre*.com*
<http://theellentheatre.com/> for
$9 (including facility fee). Students may purchase tickets at the door for
$5.50.