Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild
Chris Owen, Secretary
Chris Owen is a materials engineer and behavioral scientist by education. Chris worked in various capacities: engineering, strategic planning and operational excellence, retiring as the Director of Quality for Alcoa. In addition, Chris served 11 years as an examiner for the United States Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. After 34 years in industry, Chris went on to teach both traditional and on-line engineering students at Purdue University. Chris received the 2015 Distance Teaching Award from Purdue’s Engineering Professional Education Department recognizing him for “Excellence as a Distance Instructor”. Chris’ annual highlight is assisting artists during their Artist-in-Residence at the Sculpture Park. Chris is a bicycling and woodworking enthusiast.
Kevin O’Dwyer has worked in contemporary art and the cultural heritage field for over 25 years. He holds an MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin. Kevin established and directed Ireland’s national sculpture park, Sculpture in the Parklands, from 2002 to 2011 ( Recipient of 4 National Awards). In 2013/2014 he co- initiated and directed the Sculpture in the Wild International Sculpture Symposium. Kevin has worked on curatorial and arts management projects for Brown University (USA), European Union Educational and Cultural Foundation (EU), University College Dublin (Ireland), National College of Art and Design (Ireland), The Heritage Council (Ireland), Cafe Music Nights (Ireland), World Academy of Irish Music and Dance - Limerick University (Ireland), Glenstal Abbey, Irish Crafts Council and Pernod Ricard (France). Kevin has sat on the Boards of the Cultural Relations Committee of Ireland, Visual Artists Ireland, Crafts Council of Ireland, Chicago Artist Coalition and The Sculptors Society of Ireland. Kevin was the recipient of the Lewis and Clark Historic Preservation Award 2019 and the Governor's Arts Award 2020. Sculpture in the Wild recieved the Montana Tourism Council Cultural Heritage Award in 2018 and the 2020 Governor's Arts Award.
Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - Kevin O'Dwyer farewell interview
Jennifer Bottomly - O'looney
Jennifer Bottomly-O’looney is senior curator of the Montana Historical Society. A third-generation Montanan, she grew up on a ranch in the Gallatin Valley. She received her BA from Montana State University and her MA from the Royal College of Art in London. Jennifer came back to Montana after graduate school as an artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation but was lured by the love of history to the Montana Historical Society where she has curated a number of major special exhibits. She is co-author of Montana’s Charlie Russell, Art in the Collection of the Montana Historical Society, and has contributed articles to Montana The Magazine of Western History. Her home is in Lincoln, where she lives with her husband Doug, and their dog Flann.
Board of Directors
Wanda Owen: Cafe Music Night Co-ordination/Special events
With her background as a registered nurse and mom of four, Wanda enjoys taking care of the needs of artists and volunteers during the fall residency at the sculpture park. She enjoys hosting artists in Chris and her home outside of Lincoln. Wanda organizes and provides lunches and snacks for the artists and other volunteers. She has also enjoyed helping with the details related to the cafe night fundraiser and other needs that help keep the park ready for the many visitors. Wanda enjoys meeting visitors at the park and loves spreading the news about Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild wherever she goes.
Wanda and her husband Chris enjoy traveling and hiking with their 13 year old chocolate lab, Chip. Their first grandson Knox was born in 2022 and they can't wait for his first visit to the park.
Roger Dey
Editor and photographer at Blackfoot Valley Dispatch.
Annette Gardner - Vice President/ Chair of Education Committee
Annette Gardner, a 4th generation Montanan, grew up on a ranch in Helmville. Developing a sense of place in children is one of her primary goals as a teacher. A book called Pride of Place by Stephane Gerson describes residents of Montargis, France in 1841 who were concerned that locals did not appreciate their homeland. They resolved to honor their VIP's with monuments, statues and galleries so that they would be reminded of who they were. Annette believes that in a very real (but more subtle) way, that is what the Sculpture Park does for Lincoln: celebrates local values, history, industry, culture and environment. It lifts us up from the mundane with touches of beauty and surprise. It gives us something to reflect on and be proud of.
BLACKFOOT PATHWAYS: SCULPTURE IN THE WILD
Jordan Reeves
A Conservation Program Manager for The Wilderness Society, Jordan works in the Blackfoot Valley and Crown of the Continent Region to build coalitions of diverse stakeholders in support of public lands conservation initiatives. He has also worked for the Nature Conservancy in Idaho and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Jordan served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama and spent many summers guiding Wilderness whitewater rafting trips in the Sierra Nevadas, Cascades, and Northern Rockies. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and a Master’s in International Development and Social Change from Clark University.
Gary Burnett: Fund Raising
Gary Burnett has 40 years of experience in natural resource management and nonprofit development, working with and for public and private landowners/managers on land protection and stewardship; prescribed fire; and natural areas, wildlife and habitat management. He has developed and directed annual fund, major gift and planned giving programs for local, regional and national organizations, and holds a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Biology from University of Montana.
Gary is the Executive Director for the Heart of the Rockies Initiative, a partnership of 26 land trusts operating in the Central Rockies. This follows 10 years with the Blackfoot Challenge, a model community-based collaborative operating in western Montana. He served as co-chair for the Southwestern Crown Collaborative of the landscape restoration program for 6 years, is on the leadership team for Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, the coordinating committee for the Network for Landscape Conservation, the board of Sculpture in the Wild: Blackfoot Pathways in Lincoln, MT, and the board for the local volunteer fire department.
In his spare time, Gary enjoys getting outside with his family, especially his 3 grandsons.
Becky Garland - President
A lifelong resident of Lincoln. Becky managed her family’s retail business and was a co-owner of a heavy equipment stream restoration business that specializes in fish habitat improvement projects, both for over 20 years. She is a founding member of the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited and The Blackfoot Challenge, along with being involved with many other local organizations. Her love of walking and talking conservation, along with sharing the beauty of the area with others, is a top priority in her life.
Sarah Muse - BPSW Treasurer
Sarah Muse is a third generation Montanan. Raised in the Seeley Swan Valley, she has lived in Lincoln for over 20 years. Her family is very active in this amazing community. Sarah is the owner of a small retail business in Lincoln, specializing in art and goods made in Montana. She loves nature and the outdoors, and is an art enthusiast, hence her love for the sculpture park. It’s one of her favorite spots to frequent in Lincoln and her grandchildren have grown up exploring this beautiful place year after year. She finds it a pleasure to play a small role on this board and to share in the joy of being a volunteer.
Sculpture in the Wild © 2013