Gallery Nights kicks off 10th season

It was 10 years ago that a handful local gallery owners were brought together by a Whitefish Pilot advertising representative to discuss plans for a downtown gallery night.

The idea was simple — once a month galleries and art shops would stay open late, offer refreshments and show off their art work. Other Montana communities had established art nights and it seemed like something both local galleries and artists would benefit from.

A decade later, First Thursday Gallery Nights is still going strong. This season will feature as many as 15 art shops and galleries, and kicks off this Thursday, May 1. The monthly event goes through October.

“In the beginning, like every new idea, it was hard to get buy-in from other shops,” said Aida Hebard at Stumptown Art Studio.

Only a handful of galleries signed on for the first season — but it was just enough for their small budget to pencil out.

“It’s grown every year since and is now an established event,” Hebard said.

Hebard was one of the founders of Gallery Nights, along with Tom Gilfillan at Whitefish Pottery, Peter Edland at Walking Man Frame Shop and Gallery and Ruth Lane at Purple Pomegranate.

“It’s worked out well for us,” Gilfillan said. “It brings a lot of exposure to the galleries in town.”

Edland says the art night has become a staple event of the tourist season.

“It’s made Whitefish more of an art destination,” he said.

It also helps bring attention to local and regional artists.

“The valley has a huge base of artists,” Hebard said. “The artists and galleries both are benefiting from the cooperation of Gallery Nights.”

Most of the galleries feature an artist’s work for the entire month after the opening.

“We do quite well for the artists we represent in terms of sales,” Gilfillan said. “People are milling around and they see something to purchase.”

The May Gallery Nights is often one of the busiest of the season.

“It’s like the locals decide to come out of hibernation,” Hebard said.

The 10th season kicks off Thursday from 6-9 p.m. Visit www.whitefishgallerynights.org for a complete list of participating galleries.