This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Aug 15

By GRACE STOPHER, Missoula Cultural Council

Zootown Fringe Festival
Zootown Fringe Festival is Missoula’s 4th annual performance art Smörgåsbord. Continuing the Fringe legacy that began in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947, the Zootown Fringe Festival will celebrate and honor alternative theater and visual art in various venues throughout Missoula, August 16-20, 2016. The Zootown Fringe Festival is a platform for self-produced, non-juried, un-censored performances! View the Fringe schedule online here!

Artist Lecture: Abbie Miller
Abbie Miller created the monumental, site-specific sculptureExit Strategies at MAM. Join her for a lecture on August 16th at 7:00 PM. She will discuss how her background in fashion and recent move to Portland, OR, have influenced her large-scale vinyl and zipper sculptures. Free and everyone is welcome. This is your last chance to view this exhibition! Visit MAM’s site for more info.

2016-08-15_2213Book Signing at Fact & Fiction
Join author Joe Anderson on Saturday, August 20th, at the downtown Fact & Fiction bookstore. He will sign copies of his book, Face the Music, at 10:30 AM. Visit F&F website for more info.

Singer Songwriters at the Roxy
What has 28 albums, a Grammy Nomination, multiple “Best Musician” awards from the Missoula Independent, a USA Songwriter Grand Prize and a Northwest Emmy Award winning Television performance? The combination of Missoula singer songwriters Susan Gibson, Tom Catmull, Jenn Adams and John Floridis!

Attend an evening of sharing songwriting by four of Missoula, Montana’s pioneer and veteran independent singer songwriters at the Roxy Theater on Tuesday, August 23, at 7:30 PM. Tickets are for sale at Roxy Theater and at Rockin’ Rudy’s in Missoula. $15.00 in advance, $18.00 at the door.

Auditions for Tarzan the Musical
Bring out your best Tarzan call of the jungle, because the Missoula Community Theatre is holding open auditions on August 28 for Tarzan the Stage Musical! The audition will take place at MCT Center for the Performing Arts on the third floor. Children ages 10-15 audition from 12:30-2 PM, and those ages 16 and above audition from 2-4:30 PM. This is a highly physical show. Actors with tumbling skills are encouraged to audition. Call 728-7529 for more info.

Dearly Beloved at Hamilton Playhouse
As the wedding season is drawing to a close in the Bitterroot, join the Futrelle Sisters, Frankie, Honey Raye and Twink in their nuptial nightmare! Dearly Belovedshowtimes are August 12-14, 19-21, and 26-28, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM. Reserve your ticketsonline or call the box office at 375-9050.

Friendship Force Trip to New Zealand
In conjunction with Thames-Coromandel and Whangarei Friendship Force groups, join Friendship Force for an exchange to New Zealand November 3 – 26, 2016. Enjoy a seven day tour of the North Island, two weeks of home hosting, and travel with new friends! Email Gwen Harfst, or call at 360-481-0901 to learn more and reserve your place.

Glass Fusing Orientation at ZACC

Glass Fusing Orientation Class: August 17th, 6-8 PM
Ready to learn how to fuse glass? This introductory class will cover the basics of glass-from how the kilning process works to slumping, fusing, mold-making, and glass aftercare. Once you have attended this fun night of glass fusing you’re welcome to come in anytime and work in our Glass Fusing Studio! $20 or $15 for ZACC members + cost of glass. Visit Zootown Arts website.

TAPESTRY Improvisation Class
Turning the Wheel Missoula introduces TAPESTRY, a guided movement improvisation class with equal parts play, depth and organic creative collaboration. You will come away every week feeling inspired, alive and capable of continuing to generate and create, things that are vitally important to well being.

This class is guided by Lulu Delphine and Lizzi Juda on Wednesdays from 6:30-8 PM, September 14-November 16, at Headwaters Dance Co. Register by calling 544-7561 or email Lulu.

Beginning Aikido for Adults
Try the martial art of harmony with an orientation on Saturday afternoon September 10th followed by four guided basics classes.  For more information visit AikidoMissoula.com, call 549-8387 or come by the dojo at 208 E. Main. Preregistration required by September 7th.

2016-08-15_2214Radius Gallery: The Changing Moment
Radius Gallery’s 2nd Annual Juried Art Exhibition features 100 exquisite artwork by 61 artists surrounding the theme, “The Changing Moment.” Artworks were selected by three distinguished jurors: Kristi Scott, Hadley Ferguson, and Liz Dye. This exhibition is on view through September 16. Visit Radius Gallery at 114 E. Main and online.

MAM: Current Exhibitions
The Missoula Art Museum presents local and regional contemporary artists with exhibitions changing every 3-6 months. Visit MAM’s website for information about current and upcoming exhibitions. Newest exhibition: “Not Vanishing: Contemporary Expressions in Indigenous Art, 1977-2015″ through December 10, 2016.

2016-08-15_2214_001MMAC: Current Exhibitions
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture at University of Montana hosts two incredible exhibitions this summer:

Wood Engravers Network Triennial Exhibition June 9 – September 17, Paxson Gallery

Dramatic Moments: Frederic Remington’s Early Engravings, 1882-1895 June 9 – September 17, Meloy Gallery

Enjoy a free public lecture: “Remington’s Formative Years,” by art collector and educator Lee Silliman, on September 8th from 7 – 8:30 PM at the Montana Museum of Art & Culture. Please visit MMAC’s website for more info.

VonCommon Autumn Group Show
VonCommon Artist Collective calls for artists to respond to the theme, “This is What Democracy Feels Like.” With this art call, artists are encouraged to create an expression of how they perceive and exercise democracy as a living breathing concept. Information about the art call and how to submit is available online here. Deadline: September 11, 2016

Festival of the Dead
ZACC seeks submissions for the 5th Annual Festival of the Dead group art show inspired by the theme ”

Heroes, Dreamers, and Fighters.” Details online.  Deadline: September 18, 2016

3rd Annual Radius Holiday Show
Radius Gallery invites artists to submit their original artworks to its third annual Holiday Show. Last year’s show was very well received by gift buyers and collectors alike-with over 100 artworks sold! This year’s show promises to be even bigger and better. Find out all details online here. Deadline: September 25, 2016

2016-08-15_2214_002Volunteer Night at Missoula Children’s Theatre
Join MCT as we celebrate our past (that’s you), present (that’s you, too!) and future (we hope that’s YOU!) volunteers. Open to the general public so all are welcome! MCTinc.org

Missoula Art Museum Seeks Art Guides
MAM’s Art Guide Program trains dedicated individuals to lead tours of MAM exhibitions for all ages. Employing the Visual Thinking Strategies approach, Art Guides reach audiences by helping them learn to look at, appreciate, and respond to contemporary art. If you’re passionate about art and enjoy sharing the museum experience, the Art Guide Program is perfect for you! For more info on becoming an art guide, contact Renee Taaffe.

Join MAM for an Art Guide Open House on Friday, August 26th, from 4:00-6:00 PM. Get together with MAM staff and the other art guides to relax and kickoff a new season at the museum. Food and libations will be served.

Help Welcome International Students
The Missoula International Friendship Program (MIFP) is seeking volunteer families, couples and single people to become Community Friends to a growing number of international students and scholars who will begin studies at the University of Montana this fall. This is NOT a home stay and Community Friends have no financial obligations for the students or scholars. Many international students want to get to know Americans on a more personal basis and are eager to share their culture with you.  This program is free to both students and Community Friends. For more information or to apply see mifp.org Completed applications must be submitted by August 27, 2016.

Missoula Cultural Council Seeks Administrative Assistant
Missoula Cultural Council is hiring for a part-time Administrative Assistant. This position will provide clerical support to the Missoula Cultural Council, and serve as the liaison with the city of Missoula Public Art Committee (PAC). Job closes on August 19, 2016. Read the whole job description here.

Sussex School Seeks K-8th Grade Music Teacher

Sussex School, an independent, K-8th grade school is hiring a music teacher (.8 FTE)  for the 2016/17 school year.Sussex focuses on academic, social, and emotional growth in our students through place-based, experiential education and a focus on community. For more information about the position and how to apply, visit the Sussex website.

Clay Studio: Summertime High Tea

This late summer celebration offers an appetizing selection of high tea themed snacks and desserts prepared by local baker Margaret Ambrose-Barton. Clay Studio of Missoula’s talented ceramic artists will provide guests with one handmade cup and plate to take home. Local teas by Lake Missoula Tea Co., coffee, and wine will also be served, along with live music by local musicians Wailing Jennings and The Work Release Program.

Purchase your tickets in advance for Summertime High Tea on Sunday, August 28, at 4 PM. Tickets must be reserved and purchased prior to the event. Limited tickets are available for this special event. We will be unable to sell tickets at the event. Call 543-0509 to learn more and purchase tickets.

Missoula Art Museum Breaks Ground on Art Park Project
The MAM, city of Missoula and Adventure Cycling celebrated the completion of a three-year design and fundraising process for the Missoula Art Park with a groundbreaking ceremony, where nine “honorary shovelers” in bright orange hard-hats dug into the ground. Read more here!