Yellowstone's 19th century artists on display

The Hockaday Museum of Art will present an exhibition of rare vintage engravings portraying the first three decades of Yellowstone National Park from Jan.8 through Feb. 28.

Curated by Lee Silliman of Missoula, the ”Yellowstone Engraved: The Art of William Henry Jackson, Thomas Moran and Others” exhibition vividly portrays Yellowstone Park from 1871 to 1902 and illustrates the symbiotic development of painting and photography in the 19th century.

Jackson and Moran were the first photographer and painter to capture Yellowstone’s remarkable geysers, hot springs, canyons and waterfalls. The engraving process was utilized during this period to mass-produce images and publicize the natural wonders of the Park.

A free opening reception for the exhibition will be held at the Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 Second Avenue East, in Kalispell, on Thursday, Jan. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. Silliman will speak as part of the “Conversations with the Artists” series starting at 4 p.m. Admission to the talk is free for Hockaday members and $10 for non-members.

The museum’s mission is to enrich the cultural life of the community and region and to showcase local artists and preserve the artistic legacy of Glacier National Park.

Museum managers report that 2014 was “an incredible year,” but as December winds down, they are $5,500 short of reaching their annual fundraising goal of $20,000. Interested donors can link to a PayPal page through the museum’s Web site.

The Hockaday Museum of Art is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, open year-round on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit online at www.HockadayMuseum.org or call 406-755-5268.