This exhibition presents The Montana Institute of the Arts (MIA) permanent collection, which began in 1954 when there were few other collecting institutions in the state and none that focused exclusively on fine art.  Since 1994, this collection has resided with the Montana Museum of Art & Culture (MMAC) at The University of Montana.  The history of this collection and the MIA is central to the current cultural landscape of Montana.  The MIA was a unique organization of artists who acted collectively to enrich the artistic and cultural opportunities across the state at a time when there was not an established or formalized cultural infrastructure. The founders and member artists of the MIA were in the truest sense of the word pioneers, supporting one another and creating artistic opportunities during a time when there were limited resources and prospects for art in the state.  This collection offers the art object as a tangible record of the experiments and sentiments found in Montana art over the course of 30 years, providing an insight into Montana art history as it was unfolding, rather than retrospectively.   

Events related to this exhibition:
Thursday, May 31, 2012, 6-8pm, PARTV Lobby
Opening Reception