Mountain range mural sweeps color through Whitefish tunnel

There’s a new place to see stars over Big Mountain.  

Whitefish artist Grace Isabell has been painting a new mural of Whitefish’s surrounding mountain ranges in the pedestrian tunnel beneath the viaduct. 

“I’ve been told they look like stars,” Isabell said, pointing to miniscule holes in the wall that appear white, defying the bright paint.  

Isabell’s been working on the 90-foot mural all summer and has the base complete. 

“One of the great things about painting the mural has been chatting with passing by locals who really know the ranges,” Isabell said. “If anyone wants to stop by, I’ll be here most days through September.” 

One wall of the 90-foot tunnel is on its way to becoming a walkable map of the mountains surrounding Flathead Valley. It begins at the north end of the Whitefish Range, winding through Columbia and Teakettle Mountains and into the Swan Range.  

People experience the mural as if traversing the mountains from evening to morning. Northern lights brighten the northern end, and a sunrise comes up over Jewel Basin on the southern end. 

Isabell’s niche is plein-air painting, meaning she does much of her work outdoors.  

“I hike in, paint observationally,” Isabell said.  

“All of the plans for the mural were drawn up in the mountains while studying maps because accuracy of the peaks is really important to me. I want locals to have a sense of where they are and an appreciation of their surroundings." 

The Pennsylvania native went to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before moving to Colorado, where she started teaching plein-air painting. She settled in Whitefish eight years ago and teaches at Stumptown Art Studio and offers her own classes.  

The viaduct tunnel is a little less than four years old but is still evolving. It originally had a public art piece made of steel panels and cast glass on the north side of the tunnel, but it’s since been moved.  

“We are looking for a different location where the previous sculpture can shine because it needs more light and to be able to walk around it,” Isabell said.  

The new mural is in honor of Beth Repke’s memory. Repke passed away in 2023 in Whitefish and is survived by her family, including many grandchildren and husband John Repke.  

“Beth was involved with Stumptown Art Studio. They all wanted to give color to her legacy,” Isabell said. 

Isabell said that she hopes to paint the other wall of the tunnel with a second mural, but that “it’s funding and weather dependent. The project is put together by Stumptown Art Studio and they’re a nonprofit. It might not happen this year.” Isabell said.  

Nonetheless, Isabell already has a vision for the other side.  

“The idea right now is to have a topographical view of the Flathead River with vignettes of specific points of interest. So another walkable mural with all forks of the Flathead and winter scenes.”  

Isabell said supporting Stumptown Art Studio through the Great Fish Community Challenge can help bring the second mural to the tunnel. 

 The new mural in the Baker Avenue underpass. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)