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 The
Painted Buffalo Roam Project
Near
life-sized 25 Cow Buffalo will “roam” the Sidewalks of West
Yellowstone beginning June 2, 2007. Reminiscent of buffalo that have
wandered down the streets of West Yellowstone in years gone by,
these will be fiberglass 3-D canvases adorned in bright colors by
artists from three states. Yellowstone, Historic West Yellowstone
and Native Americans, are the themes from which artists used to sketch
out their concepts. Many artists submitted concepts to the “Buffalo
Roam” Committee and 25 artists were eventually selected and awarded
contracts.
These unique and beautifully adorned cow buffalo
 will truly “Roam”
each spring for three years as they are moved from one sponsor to
another for three summers. It is rumored that a crop of calves will
be arriving on Mothers Day, 2008. In the fall of 2009 the “Buffalo
Roam” art will be sold to the highest bidder. Anyone could have one
of these works of art for personal or business uses.
Nearly 5 ft. high and 8 feet long, these buffalo will be an
impressive sight as over 2 million visitors yearly, will see and may photograph this unique artistic collection. A pictorial of the
finished buffalo art and a “Painted Buffalo Roam Treasure Trail” map will be available so
visitors can “roam” around, photograph and learn of the artist’s
concept and theme. The intent of the project is to increase
appreciation for art and at the same time for the themes being
represented.
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The Grand
Unveiling Event - June 1st - June 2nd , 2007 |
“till the cows
come home”
Plan now to
attend The Grand Unveiling,
June 2nd, 2007, 1:00 PM
in the “buffalo corral” on the lawn
at the West Yellowstone Historical Museum.
Friday, June 1st kicks
off two days of events in West Yellowstone, Montana leading up to
the Grand Unveiling on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
Friday, June 1st:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm The
public is invited to watch as “Frances,” the 26th ‘naked’ buffalo is
“made-up” into a painted collage by the project’s participating
artists. Location: Union Pacific Dining Hall (just west of
the WY Historical Museum)
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Artist "Mini-Gallery" &
Art Sale at Union Pacific Hall.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free tours from the
Yellowstone Historic Center from one of the original "Yellow Buses"
from Yellowstone Park. Discounts on other local attractions.
Saturday, June 2nd:
8:00 am - Noon
Painting continues on “Frances,” the 26th ‘naked’ buffalo by the
project’s participating artists. The public is invited to watch.
Location: Union Pacific Dining Hall (just west of the WY
Historical Museum)
8:00 am - Noon
Artist "Mini-Gallery" & Art Sale at Union Pacific Hall.
(Re-opens from 2:00 - 5:00 PM after the Unveiling!)
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free tours in one of the original "Yellow Buses"
from Yellowstone Park. Discounts on other local attractions.
10:00 am - Noon
Free to all! Buffalo
Horn Ring Toss and Buffalo Patty Frisbee Toss on the grounds of the
Union Pacific Dining Hall.
11:00 am
Buffalo Horn Ring Toss contest. Two age groups (up to 6 years and
7-10 years old). Winners will be crowned Tatonka King & Queen.
11:00 am - 1:00 pm (or 'til it's gone!) West
Yellowstone's Fire & Emergency departments will be scooping free
samples of "Buffalo Chip" ice cream.
11:30 am - 12:25 pm A "Buffalo History of the Northern
Cheyenne" including drums, singing, stories, myths & legends.
12:25 pm Everyone is welcome to join the Buffalo line dance
as it circles the veiled buffalo!
12:30 pm Presentation by West Yellowstone's own mountain man!
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watch the crowning of
Tatonka King & Queen, join in another buffalo dance. Plus, the
"Grand Unveiling." Meet the artists and take time to look at all of the painted
buffalo.
Discount admissions to
local attractions on June 1-2!
* Grizzly Bear & Wolf Discovery
Center - $1.00 of their admission prices if
you mention the “Painted Buffalo Roam” before paying.
* The Yellowstone IMAX Theater - ½ price
admission fees.
* The Yellowstone Historic Center Museum -
½ price admission fees.
Sunday, June 3rd:
8:00 am - Noon
Watch the painted buffalo roam
home today as they are placed in their new locations at this
summer's sponsors locations.
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From Birth
to Return..... |
The gestation period of a normal buffalo is 8 months,
 ours take a
little longer (one year) but most works of art take a little extra
time. The concept began in June of 2006 and the grand unveiling will
be on the West Yellowstone Museum lawn June 2, 2007.
The buffalo started as a 10”
wax model crafted by Joe Halko
from Choteau based on a
photo of a bison cow near Madison Junction in Yellowstone Park.
From this model, the artist expanded the image into a near life size
model (8 feet long. 26 ” wide X 56” tall) using layers of Styrofoam
glued together. The model was shipped back to Buffalo, Minnesota
where Fiberstock transformed the model into a mold used to create 27
buffalo cows.
 Twenty-five,
fully painted fiberglass buffalo have now made their way back home
to West Yellowstone for their final protective coating.
Over the past five months, these formerly grey-hued buffalo have
been magically transformed into individual masterpieces by artists
from throughout the Rocky Mountain West. Each of the buffalo will be
given a full double clear protective coating to protect against the
elements as they assume their at their sponsor’s locations
throughout and near West Yellowstone. They will be attached to
anchoring bases for security.
The painted Buffalo Roam Project is sponsored by the West
Yellowstone Economic Development Council, Inc. (WYED). This project
was designed to introduce a new venue for artistic expression in
West Yellowstone. WYED envisions that the Painted “Buffalo Roam”
project will provide local citizens and visitors with a fun,
rewarding cultural and artistic experience.
Check back
weekly for new highlighted artists and articles!
Artist Susan Guy was featured
in the May 3rd edition of the Buffalo Bulletin (an
appropriate publication!) in the article, "Watch
out for the Buffalo: Local artist contributes to Yellowstone
Art Project." The article also includes two large
photo's of Susan's painted buffalo being loaded for the trip
back to West Yellowstone.
The May issue of Lively
Times is out on newsstands. There is an ad advertising
the Grand Unveiling Event and a photo of Linda Phillippi's
painted buffalo
(see pages 4 and 5).
The May/June newsletter from the Montana Arts Council
also features an article a
bout the Grand Unveiling event, on page 19. (It will also be
posted on-line later this month.)
Four Teton County artists
featured in the Choteau Acantha! Joe
Halko,
and Jim Utsler from Choteau,
Diane Hausmann from Fairfield and Diane Anderson from Power
adorned their buffalos in their own unique style. For the
article and some great photos, click on this web link,
Teton County artists paint buffalo
sculptures.
 Wildlife
artist Jim Utsler lives in Choteau, Montana. The jagged
Rockies represent a large portion of Jim's work, but he
draws from all aspects of life to create his art, also
depicting scenes and wildlife of the open plains and green
foothills leading to the mountains. Check Jim's website to
learn more about how his work is inspired by his
environment.
www.outdoormemories.com
 For
Lisa
Cameron, "Every creation is a reflection of life's journey,
a process unwinding with each day that passes." Montana.
Lisa is an award winning Colorado artist producing
commissioned paintings, ceramics and Art and Public Places
projects. Lisa's website is
www.lisajcameron.com
"Art for Everyone - Local
Western Artist Showcases Art"
Ravalli Republic
This link connects
to an article about Hamilton, Montana artist, Tim Joyner. "
An artist by trade, Tim's work has
been known to bring top bids at many auctions for non-profit
organizations "It's similar to the grizzlies we painted for
Missoula that were on display around here,' Tim said.
According to his wife, his grizzly, adorned with 40
portraits of famed Griz athletes, brought a top bid of more
than $16,000 and now proudly sits in the University of
Montana's Hall of Fame. To see more of Tim Joyner's work,
visit his Web site
www.joynerart.com."
Pick up a copy of the March 7th, 2007
Silver State Post
to
read about Kevin Heaney. The article was entitled,
"Local Artist's Buffalo to
Roam with Yellowstone Herd."
The Heaney Studio, located at the Pen
Convention Center at the Old Montana Prison Museum, Deer
Lodge, features artist-in-residence Kevin Heaney. Hours are
8 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
"Where the Buffalo Stand"
Fort Collins Weekly
Click on the link above to read the article about Pam Froemke and
her buffalo. Pam's buffalo was inspired by the Yellowstone wolf
reintroduction.
Follow the progress of Montana
artist, Michael
Meissner. Michael has
family roots in eastern Montana that reach as far back as 1840, and
was raised in both eastern and western Montana.
http://www.runningbearartwork.com/2007_painted_buffalo.html
 Pat
Schermerhorn at work on "Buttercup." Pat recently moved to Cody,
Wyoming after 30 years in North Dakota. She is a full time artist
with a studio at Stone Soup Studios in Cody. The subjects of her
work are usually people, places and things around the west. Click on
to
Pat's website
for
more information.
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Buffalo
Roam Artists and their Sponsors |
A
special "thank you" to the
artists and their sponsors!
SPONSOR
ARTIST
Canyon Square Mall
Diane Hausmann - Fairfield, MT
E.R. & Katherine Dumke
Pat Schermerhorn - Cody WY
Eagles Store
Pam Froemke - Bellvue, CO
Econo-Mart
Tony Floyd - West Yellowstone, MT
First Security Bank
Carol Newbury Howe - Livingston, MT
Food Roundup
Sean Bryers - West Yellowstone, MT
Grayling Partners
Tim Joyner - Hamilton, MT
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
Diane Anderson - Power, MT
Hebgen Lake Development
Joe Halko - Choteau, MT
Imax
Linda Phillippi - Ronan, MT
LaFever, Inc
D. G. House - Bozeman, MT
Lionshead Resort
Susan Guy - Buffalo WY
Loomis Enterprises
Traci Nichols - Potomac, MT
Madison Gift Shop, Hotel & Motel
& Timberline Café
Mitzi Nelson - Stanford, MT
Madison Crossing
Kevin Heaney - Deer Lodge, MT
Three Bear Lodge & Restaurant
Janet McGahan - Arlee, MT
Ventures West Inc.
Rebecca McClive - Fort Collins, CO
West Park Mall
Pam Houston - Ulm, MT
Wild West Mercantile
Cameron Blagg - Noxon, MT
Yellowstone Basin Bank
Jim Utsler - Choteau, MT
Yellowstone Campgrounds
Jan Johansen - Anoka, MN
Yellowstone Lodge
Asha Murthy MacDonald - Virginia City, MT
Yellowstone Painters
Michael Meissner - Glendive, MT
Yellowstone Park Village
Karen Garre - Livingston, MT
Yellowstone Conference Hotel
(Holiday Inn)
Lisa Cameron - Fort Collins, CO
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Directions
to West Yellowstone |
West
Yellowstone, Montana, is a rustic mountain town nestled
between National Forest lands and Yellowstone National Park.
West Yellowstone is located in Southwestern Montana just 1.5
miles from Wyoming and eight miles from Idaho. We share a
common border with Yellowstone National Park and are the
Park's only West gateway.
For more information on local
accommodations and services, please contact the West
Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (406) 646-7701
Email:
visitorservices@westyellowstonechamber.com
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