Montana is the embodiment of romanticism and cultural nostalgia of the American West. Tell anyone from east of the Mississippi that you’re from Montana, and you’ll usually get a response that involves questions about your horse, (which every Montanan has, right?). The imagery of a rider on horseback, majestic sweeping landscapes, and raw natural scenery is engrained in the minds of most Americans, due in large part to the artists who depicted such scenes…CM Russell, Bierstadt, Remington, Catlin, Moran…these artists were influential in cementing in the country’s consciousness mythic aspects that have become synonymous with the Western experience.
The landscape that inspires those scenes has a certain allure to the imaginative individual. Something about the proximity to wilderness, the sweeping vistas, the fresh air, and the pace of life appeals to the innovative, and the result is an ever growing community of creative people who are shaping a more diverse definition of Western art. Beyond the canvas, this creativity is evident in many forms: art of many mediums, original music, performance art, literature, and the culinary arts. SLAM (Support Local Artists and Musicians) was established to celebrate the talent of Montana residents who embody the contemporary art scene, to bring attention to the world class caliber of art that is being produced in our state by creating opportunities for connection with its creators, and to encourage a culture of creativity in communities statewide.
The 8th annual SLAM Summer Festival is returning to Bogert Park in Bozeman August 4th and 5th. This year’s festival features artists, performers, culinary artisans, and distillers from 20 cities and towns around the state. One of the unique aspects of the SLAM festival is its spirit of inclusion and community. Free to attend, the Summer festival is open to everyone in our community to come and enjoy and connect with creative people in our great state. If you’ve never been to the Summer SLAM Festival, or even if you have, here’s a snippet of what you’ll find at this year’s event:
Artist Market
The 50+ artists representing themselves at SLAM range from emerging artists, like the MSU art guild members, (many of whom are showing their work for the first time), to renowned award-winning professional artists like DG House, (whose work is part of museum and private collections across the nation). Artists who specialize in painting, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, glass, woodworking, textiles, photography, body products, and mixed media will be offering their work for sale both days during the festival. These artists are true masters of their craft, and are excited to share it with you. Shopping at the SLAM festival is a perfect example of conscientious capitalism…not only do your dollars go directly to the creator, but you have the opportunity to develop a personal connection with the artist. Learning more about the inspiration for a given work of art directly from its creator will undoubtedly give you a deeper appreciation for the end result. If you choose to do some gift shopping, you are assured that the recipient will be getting a handmade gift that is unique and embodies the spirit of the artist.
Artist Demonstrations
While perusing the amazing artists at SLAM, one might be curious about the processes necessary to create such unique and collectible works. The SLAM demonstration tent is the perfect place to explore that curiosity! Demonstrating artists will give in-depth presentations in a casual setting where audience members are encouraged to engage with the artists and ask questions about their processes. Watching the demonstrations will give you a glimpse at the passion required to create art as a career. In addition to the scheduled demonstrations, the MSU Guilds will be giving ongoing demonstrations in the afternoons starting at 2pm each day.
Live Music and Performances
Each year when planning the lineup for SLAM, we are blown away by the talent of musicians in our state. Folk, Rock and Roll, Funk, Americana, Jazz, Pop..the bands that will be gracing the stage are sure to impress and represent a wide range of genres for your listening pleasure! We are thrilled to play host to Rob and Halladay Quist for their first Bozeman performance in nearly a decade.
In addition to the world class music lineup, the stage at SLAM will showcase performances of many types of dance including clogging, belly dancing, salsa, Mexican and Peruvian folk dance, hula hooping, live theater performances from the Verge, demonstrations from Bend Beyond Yoga, and Tim’s taekwondo. There’s never a dull moment on stage at SLAM
Information on how to get involved with any of these local dance, theater, yoga, and martial arts groups will be available at the event if you see something that you feel inspired to try!
Artisanal Food
One of the benefits of growth in our state is the introduction of new flavors on the food scene. Rest assured, you can still get a perfectly cooked juicy burger or a hand scooped ice cream cone at SLAM, but you can also choose from diverse culinary offerings that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. Paella, pad thai, gourmet mac and cheese, italian ice…be sure to bring a hearty appetite, because you’re going to want to taste something from every one of the culinary artisans bringing their delicious dishes to the festival grounds this year!
Montana Libations Garden
A refreshing adult beverage can really complement a meal from one of the food artisans at SLAM. Step into our libations garden and you’ll find something that is sure to hit the spot, no matter your preference of pour. The microbrewery scene in Montana has exploded in the past few years, and SLAM is proud to exclusively serve delicious beers from Montana breweries. If liquor is more your speed, distilleries from around the state will be offering samples of some of their products, and will have a featured cocktail available for purchase at the bar that showcase the inspired cocktails that can be made from their craft alcohols. The libations garden is open to SLAM patrons who are 21+ years of age. Please bring your ID if you plan on partaking.
Family Activities
We encourage families to come and enjoy all that SLAM has to offer! Each day, there are activities that are specifically geared toward our younger patrons. On Saturday from 11am-2pm, kids can decorate a hula hoop and take it home with them. Hula hoops and decorating materials will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. On Sunday from 11am-2pm, Kerr’s Cotton Creations will be tiedying items for young SLAMMERS to take home with them. Hula hoop decorating and tie dying are free of charge, but donations are always appreciated to help offset the cost of materials.
Ongoing family activities throughout the weekend include the Dusty Lens Photo booth, Red Leaf Henna, and a bounce obstacle course from Bozeman Inflatables.
Bike Valet
SLAM takes place in one of Bozeman’s best parks, and biking to the park is good for everyone! You don’t have to worry about parking, you get a bit of exercise, and it’s an environmentally responsible mode of transportation. To encourage you to bike to the park, SLAM provides a safe place to park your bike in the bike valet. We’ll check in your bike, keep it safe while you enjoy the festival, and you can collect it when you are ready to leave. The bike valet is FREE, so please take advantage of this perk if you ride your bike to SLAM.
The 2018 Summer SLAM Festival is the ideal place to celebrate the Arts in Montana. There’s something for everyone, and we’ve even ordered up perfect weather for the weekend. Hours of the festival are 10am-7pm on Saturday, and 10am-5pm on Sunday. Come support local artists and musicians at SLAM!
