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 almost forty 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 are certainly “at home” in this fine dining establishment. Pieces include head frames, botanical subjects, and western Montana landscapes. 

Henry

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 also taught scenery design at U-M, Missoula and U of Mi-Flint, Weber State College, U of Florida, and Pacific Lutheran College. Furthermore, she did freelance work in many theaters in Seattle, Washington.

Bowen

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 and survivor of the Bata’an Death March in the Philippines. Afterwards, 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. Consequently, uptown scenes include historic old buildings and mining head frames. Interesting characters have always inhabited this city. Both are lovers of their furry pets, gardens, southwest Montana landscapes, and watercolor.

The Artists’ Inspiration

Henry features her pets in her interior scenes. She also has a “slant” on the architectural historic landscape. In contrast, Bowen is intrigued by botanical subjects: cabbage, a particular horse chestnut tree, and Butte. Southwest Montana scenery is varied and compelling. Hence, prominent in this watercolor show is Bowen’s “Marcus Daly Legacy“, a piece representing Butte’s rich mining history. It is a composite of buildings and monuments one might find in historic uptown Butte.

While in Butte, stop in at the Uptown Cafe for a fine dining experience and an all original watercolor show now through November 2, 2018.