Group looks to give new life to Christmas card tradition
The Bigfork Gallery Group is looking to breathe new life into some of Bigfork's Christmas traditions.
The group, comprised of local artists and gallery owners, recently took over the production of the Bigfork Christmas card from the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce.
"We asked if we could have the product," said Tammy Riecke, owner of Riecke's Bayside Gallery and member of the Bigfork Gallery Group. "We felt they (the Chamber) had their hands full. For us, it made sense. We are galleries and artists. It's a little easier for us, because it's our cup of tea."
The Christmas cards began 20 years ago as a way to let Bigfork's summer visitors know that the Village doesn't close down in the winter by giving a taste of the area's holiday spirit.
"We were looking for ways to make people who visit aware of what's going on at Christmas," said Gary Riecke, one of the originators of the card. "I am an artist. I figured since I knew the artists, that they would agree to this."
Since its inception by the Bigfork Retail Merchants in 1989, new cards have been released every year or two.
A local artist is selected each time to portray his or her impression of Christmas in Bigfork. The copyright for the image, which is commissioned for a small price, is then turned over to the sponsoring organization so that the Christmas cards can be produced.
"The whole idea [of the card] is to bring people to Bigfork to celebrate December with visitors who come in the summertime," said Cyndy Thorsen of the Bigfork Gallery Group. "We'd like to recapture that."
The group will look to revive the card by upping promotional work throughout the year.
The newest card, which will be available for the first time at this weekend's Holiday Art Walk, will bring the total number of cards in the series up to 12. The card image was created by Bigfork artist Danielle Taylor.
The last card was released in 2007 and done by Treg Miller.
The money raised through the sale of the cards and the corresponding posters and prints will still be used in the same way it has been in the past – to advertise Bigfork and its celebrations.
The gallery group, through donations and other events, also raises money for a scholarship each year for a Bigfork High School student interested in pursuing art as a career.
The group hopes to take on additional projects as well.
ART WALK
Area residents can get a taste of Bigfork's local artists this weekend at the annual Holiday Art Walk.
The walk, put on by the Bigfork Gallery Group, will feature 16 participating galleries. Each gallery will have its own events including new works on display, refreshments and artists to talk to.
At any of the participating galleries, attendees can pick up a map, which will also include a portion to fill out to be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to any of the galleries.
The event runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. leading up to the lighting of the Bigfork Christmas Tree.