Art in Unexpected Places

By Andrea Kurth || CDTC Gateway Community Program Manager

The Gateway Community of Lincoln, Montana, offers a different kind of artistic experience for CDT travelers. Tucked away in a small pocket of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest near Lincoln, Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild features art installations by world-renowned sculptors that commemorate the Blackfoot Valley’s cultural and natural past.

Stepping into Sculpture in the Wild feels like stepping into a forest touched by fairies, giants, and elves. Walking through the “gallery” is like playing hide and seek in the woods. At Sculpture in the Wild, adults become children again as they search for the larger-than life installations throughout the sculpture park, hidden by cover of the trees. Many of the sculptures are created from natural materials — burnt trees, carved logs, fresh twigs — and blend into the natural surroundings, while others are erected from man-made materials like iron and newspaper. All the sculptures are worn down by the elements, which change them and add to their ephemeral allure.

Be sure to catch this unique art installation in Southwestern Montana, a whimsical and fun example of how the landscape and art can interact.

arrow-circle-up Some of the many entrances to Tree Circus by Patrick Dougherty (2017).