Watercolor Show: Uptown Cafe, uptown Butte, Mt.

“Fall Afternoon on the Bitterroot”.    Watercolor done on the shore of the Bitterroot River near Hamilton, Montana.

Watercolor Show: Uptown Cafe, uptown Butte, Mt.

A watercolor show of the work of Patti Henry and Sallie Bowen is on exhibit at the Uptown Cafe. Located at 47 E. Broadway in uptown Butte, Mt, the show runs through November 2, 2018. Their watercolor show is titled “Botanicals, Interiors, and Landscapes.” It consists of over thirty original watercolors.

Background: Artists Sallie Bowen and Patti Henry:

Henry and Bowen, both Butte artists, have lived in the Mining City for many years. Mining scenes, including head frames, botanical subjects, and western Montana landscapes are “at home” in this fine dining establishment.

Henry, with a background in scenery design, has an impressive resume. She was the head painter at the Santa Fe opera for one season. She taught scenery design at U-M, Missoula and U of Mi-Flint, Weber State College, U of Florida, and Pacific Lutheran College. She did freelance work in many theaters in Seattle, Wa.

Bowen, has been painting in watercolor since the early ’70’s. Her first watercolor instructor, Ben Steele, taught at U-M, Billings. He was also a POW, survivor of the Bata’an Death March in the Philippines. He became a Professor Emeritus while teaching at U-M. For many years after his retirement, she remained in contact with him. She attended his memorial service in Billings, Mt. at the Metra Park.

The artists  became acquainted as members of the Main Stope Gallery in uptown Butte. They each love the “Mining City” culture. Uptown senes include historic old buildings  and mining head frames. Interesting characters have always inhabited this city. Both are lovers of their furry pets, gardens, and southwest Montana landscapes and watercolor.

Henry features her pets in her interior scenes. She also has a “slant” on the architectural historic landscape. Bowen is intrigued by botanical subjects: cabbage, a particular horse chestnut tree, and Butte . Southwest Montana scenery is varied and compelling. Prominent in this watercolor show is Bowen’s “Marcus Daly Legacy“. It is a composite of buildings and monuments one might find in historic uptown Butte. Stop in at the Uptown Cafe for a fine dining experience and an all original watercolor show now through November 2, 2018.

“Butte Drama”     watercolor by Patti Henry