by Victoria Howell
The Montana Professional Artists Association (MPAA) is hosting its 20th annual show June 6-8 at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. The show will feature the fine art of 18 artists from throughout Montana, and the work includes a wide variety of mediums such as oil painting, watercolor, scratchboard, sculpture, and photography.
Artists must be Montana residents, and the work shown must be original artwork.
“This is very much a fine art show,” says Michele Kapor, who organizes the show along with her partner Mari Bolen. Kapor said about half the artists are from the Bitterroot, the other half from around the state.
Kapor, an oil painter, and Bolen, a sculpture, will both have their own artwork in the show. Kapor has recently been exploring the effect of moonlight on the landscape, and that is reflected in her latest work (pun intended). Bolen does mostly commissioned work in bronze, and she will have a life-size bronze of a cougar on display.
Mari Bolen, left, and Michele Kapor in their studio in 2023, preparing for that year’s MPAA show, which is now in its twentieth year. Photo by Victoria Howell.
Other notables include Gerald Painter, a nationally known carver from Great Falls who specializes in birds – “they’re just exquisite,” Kapor commented – and Jody Parsons, a Bitterroot photographer.
One of the most popular features of the show is the Friday night “Meet the Artists” reception, from 5 to 9 p.m. This year for the 20th anniversary there will be a no-host bar, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and music by Deron Wade. Bolen and Kapor met Wade at the Bitterroot Home Show in Hamilton where he had a booth for his Countertops In Montana business. They ended up buying from him, and he subsequently became a sponsor of the MPAA show (his work will be on display). As the three chatted, they started talking about music, and found out that Wade was also a musician. He played a demo tape for them.
“We said, ‘hey, you’re damn good,” and we invited him to sing at the show,” recalls Bolen.
“It’s very nice music,” Kapor added.
The two women have been producing art shows throughout the state since 1993, but they especially love this show, perhaps because the Bitterroot is their home. They also love the support they get from their sponsors year after year.
“Cherry Pickers,” a carving of cedar waxwings with chokecherries by Gerald Painter, took 1st Place in Masters Miniatures at the Ward World Championship 2025 in Ocean City, Maryland. Painter is one of this year’s exhibitors at the MPAA art show in Hamilton this coming weekend.
“We really want to thank our sponsors over the past 20 years,” said Kapor.
“We like to let everyone in the door for free, people from all walks of life, even for the reception. We encourage people to bring their kids, we have demos for all ages, including high schoolers. We’re able to do it because of our sponsors. We have 48 sponsors, including some new ones. They like the show, it’s a social occasion. It’s a lot of fun for everyone.”
Every year, a worthy non-profit is selected to receive a share of the proceeds from the show. In past shows, for example, MPAA was able to generate over $10,000 for Camp Mak-A-Dream and $8,500 for the Bitterroot Land Trust. This year MPAA is raising money for Ravalli County Council on Aging. Each artist will submit a piece of art for sale, with 50% of the sale proceeds going to the Council on Aging.
Some other local non-profits that have received funding from the MPAA show include Western Montana Humane Society, Stock Farm Club Greater Ravalli Foundation, Linda Massa Youth Homes, Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife, Ravalli County Museum, Darby Library, Daly Mansion, Bitterroot Humane Association, Bitterroot Performing Arts Council, Teller Wildlife Refuge, Trout Unlimited, Casting for Recovery, Columbus Community Foundation, and Ravalli County Fairgrounds.
The show opens at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 6, with the reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Demonstrations are scheduled throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.
Bolen and Kapor said they are also grateful to their volunteers, who prepare and pass around the appetizers at the Friday reception.
“It’s hard work but they say they have fun,” said Kapor. “The whole community is just incredibly supportive.”