MADE in the Shade

An arts-and-crafts bonanza.

For nearly 20 years, HandMADE Montana has given Bozeman a reliably creative weekend in the spring. An explosion of art takes over the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse for the semi-annual Bozeman MADE fair—an assortment of paintings, photographs, drawings, postcards, instruments, candles, clothing, and jewelry, to name a few of the items on display in both diversity and abundance. The event showcases an impressive body of work from nearly 200 artists and craftsmen. For aficionados, it’s a full arts-and-crafts experience with enough time (barely) to take in every booth and the artisan behind it. Whether wandering blind around the floor or looking to buy something in particular, expect friendly faces welcoming any sort of tête-à-tête.

Most of the vendors are local or regional, and before every fair, HandMADE Montana opens a call for artists. Applications are reviewed to ensure a broad mix of mediums, styles, and pricepoints. For some makers, their art supplements a day job, while for others it’s more of a hobby. Still others make a living doing nothing else. For folks like wildlife photographer and Outside Bozeman contributor Ken Conger, the fair is an opportunity to share his world, and the constant rush of always being on the scene and staking out the million-dollar moment.

As Ken explains it, “It all takes time and patience.” Moving through his lineup of prints, he shares the behind-the-scenes moments of capturing his diverse portfolio, from waiting out the birth of a baby bison to encountering an adult with a snow-caked nose. Each time, Ken waited and waited, until finally, the shaggy beast took one step closer, into the moonlight. That snowy-snout photo is one of Ken’s best-selling pieces.

Unsurprising given the location, outdoor painters, sculptors, and photographers from the region are well represented. Each is unique in terms of style and process, but one common thread is time spent in nature—be that hiking around in it or driving through it. In the case of photographers, in whose booths I spent the bulk of last year’s show, more often than not that time is spent waiting and waiting.

There’s a constant reminder from each artist that creative work takes time and lots of patience. Hope Romeo showed me a landscape shot, explaining that she traveled a long way for a location she knew would be photogenic at the crack of dawn. Gazing at the colorful horizon, she thought she got what she came for. But when she turned to get back in the car, she saw a better scene. It was right behind her the whole time, and she was lucky enough to capture it before the colors faded away.

Photography is only one part of the larger mix. Sculptors balance form and function, jewelers work fine detail into durable designs, and textile artists pair bold patterns with practical use. Shoppers drift between honey jars, leather goods, ceramic bowls, and illustrated postcards. Objects are meant to be worn, used, gifted, and lived with.

For attendees, showing up matters, whether you want to make a purchase or just stroll the aisles in awe. It’s a communal experience; artists trade stories with shoppers and fellow vendors, returning visitors greet familiar faces, and first-timers quickly find themselves in conversation. It’s straightforward, really: just walk the floor, talk to the artists in action, and leave with something made by your friendly neighborhood maker.

This year’s spring MADE fair is May 2-3; the application deadline was March 1. For fall deadlines, keep an eye on the HandMade Montana website (handmademontana.com).