A Timeless Legacy
Kalispell, MT
Now in its fourth year, the Hockaday Museum of Art’s A Timeless Legacy exhibition is crossing international borders. In 1932, Glacier National Park became a partner in the Waterton-glacier International Peace Park with its neighbor to the north, Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. The participants in this year’s A Timeless Legacy, which include Deborah Berniklau, Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey, Brent Cotton, Paul Kratter, Lori Putnam, Kathryn Stats, Linda Tippetts, Jean Pilch and more, hail from both the United States and Canada were required to visit both parks.
In addition to being a major fundraiser for the Hockaday, the work in the exhibition celebrates the beauty and splendor of both parks. “Last summer we had wildfires that affected both parks, and you can really feel the aftermath of that in these paintings,” says Tracy Johnson, executive director of the Hockaday. “They really serve as historical documentations of the park’s ecology, and many of the artists have recorded their experience with photos and journals, which will be a part of the exhibition as well.”
This is the first year that the event has included men, but Johnson stresses that A Timeless Legacy has not lost its female focus. “We’ve kept the exhibition majority women,
and we’re also highlighting the work of three historical Canadian women artists, whose works span from the 1880s to 1960s. We’re still keeping that component in the show.”
Canadian painter Pilch notes the artists all share a love for the outdoors, saying, “Collectively, we have explored both parks and the artwork presented is the result of our travels. We have a vested interest in promoting and helping preserve the International Peace Park. Personally, I have hiked in both Waterton and Glacier for many years and Crypt Lake Trail is one of my favorites.”
Kratter notes that he visited the parks while the wildfires were taking place. “Every day smoke would billow into valleys resembling the smog of Los Angeles rather than the normal pristine mountain air. It was quite the challenge to paint, although the sun rises were quite unique,” he says.
The pieces in A Timeless Legacy: Peace Park 2018 will be offered at a public fundraising event on August 11, and then be exhibited at the museum through December 1.