Missoula Valley, MT June 2019

JUNE 2019

MissoulaValleyLifestyle.com

Our Fathers MAN ON AIR

LOST (AND FOUND) IN THE DETAILS

IT’S ALL CHILD’S PLAY

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

JUNE 2019 PUBLISHER

Mike Tucker | MTucker@LifestylePubs.com EDITOR

Chelsea Lyn Agro | Chelsea.Agro@LifestylePubs.com MANAGING EDITOR

Erika Fredrickson | Erika.Fredrickson@LifestylePubs.com

My father, my story.

I OWE MY LOVE FOR STORYTELLING TO MY FATHER. In a way, he groomed me for such.

Everything from his slacks to his boat shoes to his glasses to his clenched fists and cussing under his breath. The way his combover stood straight like the mast on a sailboat in fair winds, and the way he'd get to laughing in a breathless manner when

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Open Lens by Pamela | OpenLensByPamela@Gmail.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Erika Fredrickson, Ryan Simón, Ednor Therriault, Rick Wolke CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Amy Donovan Photography, Ben Jordan, Missoula Aging Services SALES SUPPORT MANAGER

Gene Peterson | Gene.Peterson@LifestylePubs.com

something was downright, belly-aching funny.

Even when things weren't light and airy, he'd always find a way because he always had the will. The days I spent with him as a young girl beckoned a certain lyricism that became the narration of our time together—something I'd hold close to when the fever of life was over for him.

He'd inadvertently crafted my hand in cataloging these memories and characteristics of detail, despite his hopeful plan for me to be in law enforcement like he

CORPORATE TEAM

was. He'd entertained my wishes to pursue a degree in journalism and he sung my

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

praises to his circle of silver-haired friends who'd all watched me grow up―their

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

names I can no longer remember. I left them behind, somewhere in the smoky bowl-

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

ing alley back when cigarettes were as common as his left-handed 300 game. He wore the name Southpaw Drake till his dying day.

Moreover storytelling, he taught me how to be. And I realize now what a rare and special gift that is. When the world skips a beat or falters in step, I remain grounded with him overhead.

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson EDITORIAL MANAGER Nicolette Martin AD MANAGER Chad Jensen REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Happy Father's Day to you, dad.

Chelsea Lyn Agro, Editor Chelsea.Agro@LifestylePubs.com

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

Proverbs 3:5-6 Missoula Valley Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Missoula Valley areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Missoula Valley Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

INSIDE THE ISSUE JUNE 2019

FEATURES 12 Lost (and found) in the Details Ceramicist Ben Jordan gives his work perspective

16 Child’s Play Turned Reality Notable Missoula father invests in sons’ imagination.

16 22

22 Man on Air Craig signs off on his career in radio.

12

32

DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

8

Good Times

10

Around Town

12

Artist’s Palette

28 Open House 32 Inspired By 36 Lifestyle Calendar 38 Local’s Choice

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COMMUNITY DISCOVERY DAY On Saturday, June 1 this 4-hour class will introduce you to the basics of fly fishing and naturalist knowledge to successfully explore the sport. Casting, trouble-shooting, knot tying, and information about the fish and insects will provide a rich learning experience. Instructor and fly fisherwoman Erin Geiges will keep you moving with hands-on practice in a small, 8-person class. Bring with you: lunch, water, snacks, clothes appropriate for changing in all seasons, notepad and pen, journal, binoculars, hand lens or loupe. Not to worry if you don't have or want to bring some of these items. Class will meet at the Native Plant Garden at Fort Missoula at 9 a.m. $35 MNHC members, $40 for nonmembers, registration is required. Please visit MontanaNaturalist.org for more information.

MISSOULA BEERS, BANDS, AND PUBLIC LANDS On Friday, June 7 at 5 p.m. come on down to Caras Park for the 4th annual Beers, Bands and Public Lands celebration!

Thousands of public land owners will converge on Caras Park for this brewfest centered on the passion for our wild public lands, water, and wildlife. $20 admission, which includes a steel mug and three drink tickets. There will be BHA merchandise for sale, plenty of local food vendors, live music, and raffle prizes!

RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP Don't you wish you could bottle up all of our rain and use it sparingly throughout the summer? On Saturday, June 15

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

you'll have the chance to create your own rain barrel at 1527 Wyoming Street between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. The National Wildlife Federation's Rain Barrel Workshop will educate community members on a sustainable way to water their garden.

The Gardening for Wildlife program encourages gardeners to use sustainable practices that minimize human impact on the environment. Water conservation is crucial in Western Montana and a simple way to reduce use of water is by recycling rain water. For $30 (MUD members) or for $45 (non MUD members) participants can build and paint rain barrels that they can take home and use.

HOW TO REACH YOUR FINANCIAL DREAMS AND GOALS Looking for some financial guidance? Join the conversation on Wednesday, June 5 at 12 p.m. at C3 WorkLounge. Listen to Graysen Vukasin of PRIMERICA as he teaches you the fundamental concepts that have helped millions of clients build financial security. This class is complimentary and you'll have the opportunity to learn about: + The three different savings accounts you need + Ways to reduce debt • Retirement savings strategies + How life insurance really works + The high cost of waiting to save

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ARTIST’S PALETTE

“WITH EACH SLAB OF CLAY, I ASK A QUESTION, AND I LEARN THROUGH SHAPING IT WITH MY HANDS, NAVIGATING THE CLAY TO FIND MY ANSWERS.”

L O S T ( A N D F O U N D) I N T H E D E TA I L S CERAMICIST BEN JORDAN GIVES HIS WORK PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE RYAN SIMÓN | PHOTOGRAPHY AMY DONOVAN PHOTOGRAPHY & BEN JORDAN

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

LOCAL CLAY ARTIST BEN JORDAN BELIEVES THAT FINGERPRINTS ARE THE EVIDENCE OF CULTURE. They are our mark, our symbol that tells the tale, we were here. And they’re of equal value to our turbulent journey to self-discovery.

From prehistoric red ochre caveman hand sketches to a child’s thumb smudge on a car window, we were here.

Ben Jordan’s sculptures are his mark. His work starts to take shape at the Clay Studio of Missoula and if you look closely enough, you’ll notice the perfectly imperfect curve of clay to make, say, flower petals on a mug. And you might even catch the tiny grooves of a fingerprint. No two are the same.

“Machine-manufactured pottery eliminates the human imprint,” Ben explained. “The handprints keep it real.”

Ben refers to his handiwork as “hands-on learning.”

“With each slab of clay, I ask a question,” Ben explained. “And I learn through shaping it with my hands, navigating the clay to find my answers.”

And the questions Ben asks through his handiwork aren’t your everyday inquiries but rather a deep exploration into human history, into the intricate relationship between humankind and nature.

Traditionally, ceramicists are more artisans than artists. Their work is hand-labor, meaning that they literally labor with their hands to mold formless clay into useful products, such as cups, bowls, bottles, and so on. It’s a tradition deeply ingrained in human history that has accumulated many meanings and various styles over the past millennia.

Specifically, Ben Jordan is exploring the stylistic lineage of “Manifest Destiny,” or European westward expansion in his clay art, starting with the Moorish imports to Spain to the Spanish conquistadors’ influence on America. This continues all the way up to Western floral “Sheridan Style” that’s popular in the American Southwest, where Ben was raised.

To translate this “Westward” aesthetic to his ceramics, Ben employs a technique called “sgraffito” to his work, which involves free-hand scratching the designs into the clay.

For his more elaborate sculptures, such as the large, hefty bighorn sheep head he was kilning when I met with him, Ben’s creative process starts with a drawn sketch of the sculpture to a series of 3D “drafts,” the best of which he uses as a plaster mold model for the final art work.

Regarding this final step, Ben betrayed a note of embarrassment. I asked why.

“Because the plaster removes the fingerprints,” Ben explained. However, as if to make up for this crime against humanity, Ben raised the heavy bighorn sheep mold for a better look at the sheep head’s interior, and lo and behold: dents and grooves. Fingerprints for posterity.

As river-folk, I imagine Missoulians to be particularly interested in the fluid-like passage between origins and destinations. After all, our Missoulian view on the Clark Fork is only a snippet of the stream’s grand scheme, leaving the water’s beginning and end on a map and never in our full view.

We live in the details.

It’s no coincidence that clay—a watery, earthly substance—lends to this sense of presence in passing history. And by asking the clay questions while manually molding it into new forms, Ben does something interesting: He finds answers while supplying questions for the next generation.

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

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It’s All Child’s Play NOTABLE MISSOULA FATHER INVESTS IN SONS’ IMAGINATION

ANDREW HUNT IS KNOWN AROUND TOWN AS “COWBOY ANDY.” He’s the frontman for a fun-loving band called The Salamanders, whose songs, like “Pirate Santa” and “Matt Damon Magnetized Me,” have that special allure

ARTICLE ERIKA FREDRICKSON PHOTOGRAPHY OPEN LENS BY PAMELA

of simultaneously entertaining both kids and adults.

One of the characteristics of the family-friendly songwriter is that he doesn’t dumb down his songs for kids.

Hunt believes in children’s abilities to be creative and curious enough to enjoy new and often mysterious concepts.

And he has a sense of how having fun and being goofy can be a perfect portal to tuning the mind, and vice versa.

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

“ I l ik e t o c r e at e a n d I l ik e t o m a k e m u s ic a n d v id eo s , bu t i t ’ s ta k en m e a lo n g t im e t o u n d er s ta n d t h e pr oces s , o r g a n i z at io n a n d a ppr o a ch ,” A n d r e w s a id . “ Bu t t h en , I ’ v e a ls o l e a r n ed t h at if you u n d er s ta n d t h o s e t h in g s , you c a n do a n y t hin g . I t ’ s l ik e a r ecipe . You ge t t h e in g r e d ie n t s a n d you pu t i t t oge t h er . S o I t o l d t h em , ‘ O k ay: H er e ’ s s o m e o f t h e b a s ic t hin g s you n eed .’ Bu t t h e r es t o f i t is u p t o t h em .”

Outside his persona of “Cowboy Andy,” Andrew

“Basically it’s a trivia game show and whoever

is a dad, and his sensibility for what makes good

hits their buzzer can answer questions and get

all-ages music seeps deeply into his approach to

points,” said Oscar. “Whoever has the most points

fatherhood. Andrew’s 12-year-old son, Oscar, and

at the end of all three rounds gets to win a prize.”

8-year-old son, Gus, are homeschooled by both

Kids come up with ideas like this all the time,

he and his wife, Stacy. And one of the things the

but adults don’t always jump on board or take

parents strive to do is let the boys’ curiosity about

them seriously. After all, some ideas aren’t meant

the world guide the learning process.

for anything beyond a lazy afternoon. But Andrew

“We have done cheese making, pottery, and

and Stacy thought a game show could be the

toured different factories and farms,” Andrew

kind of project the kids could invest themselves

said. “We let the kids lead. When they were

in in a meaningful way. Andrew helped them put

younger we would go into almost every kitchen

together a binder to organize their plan and he

of a restaurant and just be like, ‘Hey! Whatcha

charged them with creating a script so they could

doin’?’ so they could get a feel for how things

make the show come alive in a compelling way.

worked there.”

Gus and Oscar are also encouraged to pursue all kinds of projects, and their most recent one is—of all things—a game show.

Last year, during an MCT summer camp, Gus and Oscar set up a trivia game as part of a talent

“Dad’s been very, very supportive in the process of helping us,” Oscar said. “We couldn’t have done it without him.”

“We practice almost every morning,” added Gus. “He helps us get the idea of what to do during practice.”

show. It was a rough-cut effort, but it ended up

For Andrew, it’s partly just a matter of teaching

being a big hit. Afterward, Gus wanted to develop

his kids how to be practical. In order to bring a

the idea into a real game show that would be shot

project to fruition you have to design the steps

in a studio and aired on television with the help of

to get there or it’s not going to happen. But he

Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT).

also understands that knowing how to take an

Gus would host and Oscar would write the ques-

idea and execute it well, provides confidence and

tions and direct and their friends would be con-

practice that pays dividends for future projects—

testants. They decided to call it “Gus’s Amazing

something that will be valuable when his kids

Game Show.”

become adults.

CONTINUED >

“ Ok ay, r e a dy? ” A n d r e w s a id , s ta n d in g beh in d t h e c a m er a . “A n d … a c t io n ! ” June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

17

IT’S ALL CHILD’S PLAY

(CON TI N U ED)

“I LIKE TO CREATE AND I LIKE TO MAKE MUSIC AND VIDEOS, BUT IT’S TAKEN ME A LONG TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, ORGANIZATION AND APPROACH.” ANDREW SAID.

18

Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

“I like to create and I like to make music

tie, and tan cowboy boots stands behind

“Oh I like that, that was perfect,”

and videos, but it’s taken me a long time

a table facing the camera saying in his

Andrew said. “Let’s do it one more time.

to understand the process, organization

best, most enthusiastic game-show

That was great.”

and approach,” Andrew said. “But then,

voice, “The one to have the most points

One of the ways Andrew prepared the

I’ve also learned that if you understand

at the end of all three rounds gets to win

boys for making a quiz show was having

those things, you can do anything. It’s

a fabulous prize!” Oscar, in a full-on white

them do homework. And that meant

like a recipe. You get the ingredients

suit and black cowboy boots, sits off to

watching old game shows to see how

and you put it together. So I told them,

the side holding the script. He’s helping

they work. Streaming services like Netflix

‘Okay: Here’s some of the basic things

Gus get through his lines, but also figur-

and Amazon now offer access to current

you need.’ But the rest of it is up to them.”

ing out what kind of camera angles are

game shows such as “Jeopardy,” but they

necessary for shooting the scenes.

also cater to the nostalgia of original game

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, the boys set up in the MCAT studio to shoot the game show introduction, along with

“Okay, ready?” Andrew said, standing behind the camera. “And…action!”

shows like “You Bet Your Life,” “Family Feud,” and “The $25,000 Pyramid.”

their theme song, which Oscar wrote.

“Now let’s introduce the contestants!”

“It was really weird to be like, ‘Okay, you

They look a lot like their dad, with the

Gus said, turning toward the entrance of

guys can watch some TV,’” Andrew said,

same long brown hair and charming

the room where the contestants will be

laughing. “And they’re in there watching reruns

grins. Gus, in a dark blue suit, maroon

once they shoot the actual game show.

of these ’70s game shows.”

CONTINUED >

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

19

IT’S ALL CHILD’S PLAY

(CON TI N U ED)

The kids write down what they notice about the game shows: What the camera angles are.

How many cameras they think they’ll need. How the game show host introduces the contestants.

“And we just sort of figured out the practical nature of how you film this,” Andrew said.

At MCAT, Gus practices his lines. “Here’s how it works,” he says theatrically into the camera. “If you think you know the answer, you ring the bell!”

He decides he wants the buzzer to look like it appears out of thin air on the table next to him, so Hunt helps him figure out how to make that happen.

“That means when you say that line you’ll have to freeze,” Andrew told Gus. “You absolutely can’t move.”

After Gus freezes, Hunt places the buzzer next to him and then cues him to keep talking. “We’ll make the bell appear when we edit it,” Andrew said. “We’re totally doing that.”

It’s interesting to watch Andrew take the boys’ ideas and help them problem-solve. They’re having fun, but still they’re learning to use new equipment and they’re learning to create a vision and follow through on it.

Andrew said the plan is to film a pilot and then see how it goes. They may end up making more episodes and try to turn it into a season that could air on MCAT. But they’re taking it one step at a time.

After the game show they have other plans.

The boys were recently looking through a book called Boy Mechanics that was released in 1913

by Popular Mechanics. Inside they found blueprints for a glider, and they’re hoping to build that together with their dad this summer. Hunt admits he’s personally less enthusiastic about that project, but he’s up for it. The boys’ enthusiasm is kind of hard to resist.

“For me, it doesn’t matter what you want to do,” Andrew said. “Build a fort, or go fishing, or plan a game show. It’s about big-picture organizing and breaking the project down.”

No matter what happens, it’s easy to see that the collaborative process is building confidence and creativity in these boys—and maintaining a bond between father and sons that they’ll remember forever.

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

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ARTICLE EDNOR THERRIAULT PHOTOGRAPHY OPEN LENS BY PAMELA

man on air CRAIG SIGNS OFF ON HIS CAREER IN RADIO FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS, THE CRAIG AND AL MORNING

South Dakota, he worked everywhere from L.A. to Florida before

SHOW WAS AS RELIABLE AS TAP WATER. Then, in 2009, the

settling in Missoula for good in 1992.

Missoula radio institution that had called three different stations

“I was going to live in L.A. for ten years. I was going save all my

home finished its run at KYSS-FM. Allen K was retiring, but Craig

money and come back to Missoula and open a biker bar. I made it six

had no plans to hang up his headphones any time soon. He’d just

months. Just too many people,” said Craig.

inked a five-year extension with the pop country station.

Craig’s easy laugh and curious mind make him an ideal inter-

When that five years was up, he was immediately hired by Trail

viewee, and he quickly put his studio guests at ease when they

103.3, where he was given relatively free rein to indulge his musical

came in on weekday mornings to promote their event or cause.

tastes on weekday mornings while entertaining listeners with the

Music is clearly his favorite subject, and he keeps a warehouse of

same trivia games, rock ‘n roll history lessons, and wry, self-depre-

rock ‘n roll history inside his smooth-shaved head. He’s a stalwart

cating humor that led to several “Best Radio Personality” awards for

devotee of sixties and seventies rock, which he and Al played for

himself and Al from the Missoula media over the years.

ten years on Z100. His email signature reads, “Never trust a band

Craig has been such a constant presence in the fabric of Missoula that people feel like they know him. We’ll soon have to find a new radio BFF, though. After spending two-thirds of his life behind a microphone, Craig is retiring this month.

“Forty-six years, never out of work. I never even got fired,” he says.

After starting his career at age 21 at an a.m. station in Lemmon,

22

Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

without a guitar."

When the pair moved to KYSS, most of their fans followed them.

But not all.

“When I went from Z100 to country, some people said ‘[screw] you.’” He was relieved, but not that surprised, when his audience followed him to the Trail five years ago.

“I was always worried, being on the radio, people would pretend that I was cooler than them, but in many cases I was dorkier than them. People like what I do for the most part. Or they hate me, because that’s an emotion too. At some point I kind of figured out that if nobody dislikes you, probably nobody likes you either because you’re not doing anything that affects anybody in a meaningful way.”

While Craig was holding down the morning fort by himself for the last ten years, the music business was being turned on its head. The relationship between record labels and radio had changed fundamentally, and now he found himself playing songs by artists who’d recorded worldwide hit songs on a laptop in their bedroom. The way people consume music has also changed, and the bottom has dropped out of the record industry. How has all of this affected the radio landscape?

“Ten years ago,” he said, “had somebody asked me what’s the best way to get into radio, if I were going to be really honest with him, I’d say find some work. Get a good honest job because I don’t know if [broadcast radio] is going to make it.”

He points out that, especially before the download era, people bought their music based on what they heard on the radio. Although the entertainment pie has been sliced thinner with the advent of satellite radio, streaming, podcast and other choices, he’s more optimistic about radio’s future now.

CONTINUED >

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

23

MAN ON AIR

(CON TI N U ED)

Craig and his granddaughter Pearl Defiance “Fireball” Rogalski

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

“Radio’s going to survive,” he said. “I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but I’m just thrilled that there are young people who care as much about the business as much as I did. They’ll figure it out and make it succeed.

They’re smart. They’ve grown up on tech, they’re absolutely unintimidated it by it.” He added, with a laugh, “A bunch of dinosaurs like me are going to die and they won’t have to listen to our [bull] anymore.”

As for retirement, Craig looks forward to traveling with his wife, Patty, and spending time in his newly-built backyard shop, putting a wrench to his collection of old motorcycles. Surely there will be a shop radio on a shelf, tuned to a rock ‘n roll station, feeding his jones for British Invasion bands like the Kinks and the Stones. At some point he’ll probably hear the song, “For Real,” by Tom Petty, one of his favorite artists. He feels a connection with the lyrics, and quotes them. “‘I did it for you, I did it for me. I did it for real, would've done it for free.’”

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

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John Strong, ChFC®,John AAMS®, CRPC® Strong, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC® www.edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com John ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC® www.edwardjones.com JohnStrong, Strong, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®

406-542-8790

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

27

OPEN HOUSE

CHELSEA: NIC, IT'S EASY PEASY TO BUILD A DREAM HOME, RIGHT? We close our eyes, we sketch it out in our mind's eye—white farm house, wraparound porch, yellow door, horse fencing in the background that fades into a grandiose view of steep mountains. I've got it done, right? Well, maybe it's a start!

Nic: Absolutely, just plant a magical seed and wait for the house to grow! Actually, conveniently, many people looking to build a dream home tend to come with a binder full of ideas and design goals, which is important. I call their vision “The Program.” Does the customer want four bedrooms, three baths, a guest room with its own bathroom? Really, though, our best projects are the ones that the customer just tells us to “make it cool.” Sort of like, “Here’s the Program, now do what you think best fits the site.” This is fun as it gives us creative license to do some genuinely cool things with their home.

Chelsea: What are five things to have in mind when thinking about having your dream home built?

Nic: Okay, so, five things, the first thing is the view: what do and don’t you want to see from your home. The second is how does the house fit into the surrounding landscape?

We prefer to “shoulder” the houses into the landscapes, meaning that we make them wider rather than taller, which touches on the third thing: how many levels do you want?

Likewise, the fourth thing: how does the interior engage the exterior? For example, do you want easy access to the outdoor patio from the living room? Of course, all of the above depends on one of the most important things to keep in mind: budget, which we help navigate.

Chelsea: Now that we have our ducks in a row, what are some outliers that people may not consider when wanting to build their dream home? Can we warn them or educate them in advance on anything?

Nic: Part of our job is to prevent people from making a mistake in their design decisions, and part of that involves showing a visual model of their dream home before moving forward. When it comes to building the house, we help find the contractors, but in general it’s smart for buyers to research contractors before hiring one.

CONTINUED >

28

Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

building

the dream

NC DESIGN STUDIOS LAYS THE FRAMEWORK FOR YOUR DREAM HOME ARTICLE CHELSEA LYN AGRO

PHOTOGRAPHY AMY DONOVAN PHOTOGRAPHY

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

29

OPEN HOUSE

(CON TI N U ED)

Chelsea: I assume this is most always a forever-home situation, but let's say we're building a dream home to sell. Any factors to take into consideration when building?

Perhaps different materials, appliances, features? In other words, what are some good investments for home-building?

Nic: Beauty sells. If you’re building a house looking to sell, a beautiful house will sell a lot easier than an ugly house. The factors involved in “beauty” here are many, namely having a simply good architectural design that fits the neighborhood, meshing with the local, natural environment, having natural lighting, supporting a modern lifestyle. And in addition to beauty, healthy homes are important, meaning homes that are energy efficient.

Chelsea: This is more of a self-indulgent question but I want to know—what's your favorite thing about building in the Missoula or surrounding areas? Why Western Montana?

NC DESIGN STUDIOS

Nic: In Montana, we have the freedom to create sculptures in the landscape—be it on the

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attitude, generous, happy people—we seem to attract these types of people, and I don’t

NCDesignStudio.com 30

Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

know what to think of that other than to say, maybe that’s just Missoula.

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

31

INSPIRED BY

M Y DAD, MY HERO

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

IT IS IN THE MOST MUNDANE, MOST SIMPLISTIC, MOST HUMDRUM OF DAYS THAT A FATHER SHOWS HIS SUPERHERO CAPE. Happy Father's Day to Missoula father, Ryan from his two loving sons, Mason and Colter.

CONTINUED >

June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

33

INSPIRED BY

34

(CON TI N U ED)

Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

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35

JUNE

LIFESTYLE CALENDAR

1

8

ENDS ON JUN 29

A RACE OUT OF THE DARKNESS

SELF DEFENSE FOR MOMS AND DAUGHTERS

SUDDEN VICTORY WRESTLING CAMP

and sand drags on Sunday. This

Bring your daughter in for a self

Learn high-level wrestling tech-

year's event will donate funds to "Out

defense workout with Fit Pro, per-

niques from clinicians Kyle Dake and

of the Darkness Suicide Prevention."

sonal trainer and Muay Thai Fighter

Kyven Gadson as well as counselors

Races start at noon, $5 to watch, $30

Kate Sholy! This hour-long class

who have been successful at all lev-

to race. Camping is available!

is meant to be fun and informative

els of wrestling.

Muralt's Travel Plaza

Mud bog and tough truck on Saturday

Athleta, within the Southgate Mall

Big Sky High School

and will leave you both feeling

3

empowered and strong. Girls ages 7-12 are welcome.

30

ART IN THE MOMENT

8

MISSOULA MARATHON & HALF MARATHON

OVER THE EDGE 2019 FOR UNITED WAY OF MISSOULA

This course is flat, fast, USATF-

United Way of Missoula County

maybe there's one big hill at the half-

ers. Based on the Museum of Modern

Get yourself downtown to watch

way point, but you can do it! Those

Art's MEET ME program, Art in the

participants fundraise for the oppor-

participating must pick up your race

Moment creates a dementia-friendly

tunity to rappel down the First

packet and chip on Saturday, June

learning community. Limited to six

Interstate Bank downtown building!

29, at the Expo between 8 a.m. and 4

participants and sponsored by The

Fundraisers raising $1,000 will have

p.m. We'll see you on race day, cheer-

Montana Geriatric Education Center

the chance of a lifetime, rappelling

ing from the sidelines!

and Dementia Friendly Missoula.

down the side of the building. Money

Missoula Art Museum

This MAM program provides a comforting art-viewing and art-making experience for those in the early stages of dementia and their caregiv-

Caras Park

certified, and a Boston Qualifier! Ok,

raised supports United Ways's com-

7

munity programs in education, finan-

THE BIG EVENT

23

The Barn on Mullan

Big Brothers Big Sisters' annual summer gala is here! This event features an outdoor gourmet dinner,

36

cial stability, and health.

SUMMER MADE FAIR Caras Park

live and silent auctions, drawings

Treat yourself to an open-air market

and prizes, live music from the local

of handmade goods from local and

We are always accepting sub-

Missoula band Tophouse and more.

regional artists. This fair caters to

missions for events you'd like to

All proceeds go to Big Brothers Big

everyone from the hobbyist to the

see included in our Calendar sec-

Sisters to continue matching at-risk

seasoned professional, and it's the

tion. Submissions are accepted

children in the community with pas-

perfect place to pick up a special gift

via

sionate mentors.

for yourself or someone you love!

MissoulaValleyLifestyle.com.

Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

the

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June 2019 | Missoula Valley Lifestyle

37

LOCAL’S CHOICE

WHAT IS IT ABOUT WORKING WITH WOOD THAT OFFERS SO MUCH SATISFACTION? Maybe it's the aroma of a fresh cut, or the individuality of each piece of wood and its own beautiful grain structure, or the tactile nature of a finished piece that begs for praise.

A true compliment to any woodworker is to see your hand glide across the surfaces and contours of a finished piece. Or at least, that's what I love about seeing a customer "meet" their finished piece for the first time.

I learned woodworking as a kid growing up at my grandpa's work bench, usually sanding all the parts that he had cut for the project—a rather mundane part of the process. It wasn't until high school wood

WORDS FROM A

WOODWORKER

ARTICLE RICK WOLKE | PHOTOGRAPHY PAMELA DUNN-PARRISH

shop when I got to do the cutting and machining of the wood myself.

I casually enjoyed woodworking as a hobby throughout my adolescent years. My career in automotive and as a custom metal machinist exposed me to working within increasingly critical tolerances, even down to one ten-thousandths of an inch. It was then that I began applying those tighter tolerances to my woodworking, bringing everything I created to a higher level of technique.

Whether it's a bowl or vase or an urn, no piece is the same, and often times it ends up not exactly how I envisioned it. But that's the beauty of it. In today's world of mass production and cookie cutter trinkets, I think there is still a widespread appreciation and respect for a single handmade item that won't be found in anyone else's home or office. And that's why I do it.

WoodByWolke.com

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Missoula Valley Lifestyle | June 2019

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