The Montana House was originally built in 1959 in Apgar Village as a Regional Craft Shop. We feature arts and crafts made by Native American and Montana artists and authors. These include pottery, wood pieces, jewelry, photography, books, quilting, painting, glassworks and Native American artwork, soaps, lotions and beadwork.
The shop offers a wide music selection including traditional and contemporary Native American musicians and local and western artists. It is also one-stop shopping for Huckleberry, Mooseberry, Wild Chokecherry and other local Montana grown berries in jams, jellies, chocolates, pancake and muffin mixes, coffees and teas.
The Montana House has hosted the works of approximately 500 artists since opening its doors in 1960. Currently the works of four members of the Montana Circle of American Masters are shown. These are:
Jackie Larson Bread: Currently traditional Plains ledger art with its vibrant color & stylized depictions is the basis for her bead work, as well as delicate Blackfeet florals, bold Blackfeet geometric designs, and illusionary pictorials. Images are hand drawn and composed into intricately beaded bags, boxes, parasols, other traditional utilitarian items.
Rich Charlson: Close inspection of Rich’s work reveals a complex combination of colors & textures, almost kaleidoscopic in effect. The designs in his bowls are created by combining numerous pieces of woods of different colors. Some bowls have over 5,000 pieces of wood in them, with none of the wood being dyed or painted.
Elaine Snyder: For millennia, human beings have been using animal hides to clothe and protect themselves. Elaine works in this traditional medium, bringing to it the dynamic of modern attire. She takes great ]pride in turning tanned hides into items that are both beautiful and usable in daily life.
James Jensen: Humans have used woodcarving for centuries in order to express themselves activities. Through his works in wood, Jim has become known as “The Bear Man” because most of his carvings are of bears that he has observed while hiking Glacier National Park and working in the mountains.
For more information on these artists and other Montana Circle of American Masters, see their website at http://www.art.mt.gov/.
Currently, the works of these artists are on display and for sale in the Montana House:
Philip Aaberg | Blue grass music |
Kelly Apgar | Original oil paintings |
Marilyn Bacon | Leather purses |
Stacey Bengsto | Photography cards |
David Bennett | Photos, cards |
Brian & Kerry Bertsch | Wooden wall switches & outlets |
Kristine Blickhan | Cloth baskets, knotted & fabric scarves |
Jackie Larson Bread | Traditional Blackfeet beadwork |
Sheri Burden | Stained glasswork window hangings |
Rich Charlson | Wooden bowls |
Karen Christie | Peace Cranes |
Monte Dolack | Cards, posters |
Dale Duby | Knives & stands of obsidian/ bone/antler |
Steve Eckles | Guitar CD’s |
Lorna Gable | Small framed watercolors |
Vonnie Gardner | Glazed vases, bookmarks |
Jim & Jane Gilman | Large pottery vases & platters |
Jack Gladstone | Music CDs |
JoAnne Greig | Quilt Scenic Wall Hangings |
Sumio Harada | Goat book, DVD & photos |
Heidi Haugen | Pottery |
Todd Hileman | Small framed watercolors |
Judy Howell | Montana Earth Pottery |
Peggie Jenkins | Gourds |
Jim Jensen | Wood carvings |
Lori Johnson | Smudging sage/cedar/sweetgrass |
Jim Jokerst | Original pastels of GNP wildlife |
Shirley Koledejchak | Painted magnets, jewelry |
Robert Koester | Wooden boxes/salad tongs/bread knives |
Bill Kramer | Antler cribbage boards, jewelry, beads, whistles, etc. |
Mary K Kreps | Cards & post cards |
King Kuka | North American framed art prints |
Karen Lamb | Petroglyph pendants/fridge magnets |
Lisa Little Chief Bryan | Native American herbal teas |
Laura Lloyd | Calligraphy cards |
Living Earth | Arts Cards |
Gary Ludwig | Framed photos, cards |
Betty MacDavid | Watercolors, note cards/posters/journals |
Mac’s Gems | Montana sapphire jewelry |
Pauline Matt | Herbal soaps, lotions, balms |
Greg & Ann Morley | Canoes |
Mountain Woods | Wooden bread knives |
Heather Mull | Candles |
Marlie Neisinger | Potholders |
Denise Nisson | Beaded jewelry |
Rob Nuckols | Nuts & bolts metal figures |
Peggy Olson | Quilt wall hangings |
Don O’Mailla | Glass jewelry |
Florence O’Neal | Jingle Art Photos |
Ken Overcast | Cowboy music CD’s & books |
Kendra Owen | Bead work/mocs/talking sticks/dream catchers |
Pack River Buttonworks | Wood crow calls/rattles/puzzles/ornaments/switches |
Jean Perkins | Silkscreen wildflower cars/bookmarks |
Loren Pinski | Wooden duck carver & golf club ducks |
Laura Plain | Horsehair items & ornaments |
Margie Rasmussen | Bear Bells |
Charles Rogers | Walking sticks |
Gale Running Wolf, Sr. | Original artwork & limited prints |
Toni Schneider | Dried wildflowers paperweights |
Nan Sigrist | Wildflower cross stitch kits |
SK Designs | Etched glass mugs/wine glasses/coasters |
Elaine Snyder | Leather jackets/purses |
Lynn Ellen Smith | Flower wall quilts |
Sue Snyder | Spirit Stones |
Adena Stosich | Wooden puzzles |
Ron/Mary Ann Thamert | Metal art wall hangings |
Steve Thorstenson | Pottery birds |
Jane Timmerman | Photography |
Shirley Twohig | Wall quilts |
Cindy Vandever | Wildflower cards |
Naldo & Svarga Vazza | Jewelry |
David Walburn | Music CD’s |
Kim Waldman | Cards & tote bags |