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An Eye for Artistry

New gallery opens in downtown Kalispell, featuring wildlife, landscape art

By Molly Priddy

Rick Green is a many-faceted man. He’s a hunting guide, who has spent countless hours leading hunts all over the United States, from the wilds of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the breath-taking scenery of Big Sky, Montana.

He’s also an artist, specializing in paintings, but dabbling in drawings and colored pencils as well. And now, he’s in business for himself, having opened Wild Eye Artistry, an art gallery in downtown Kalispell.

The gallery has only been open since February, but already, artists are eager to have their work shown in such a prominent storefront, located at 328 Main St.

“It’s literally every day I get a local artist coming in and asking if they can show their work here,” Green said last week.

Myriad art pieces fill the space, giving a sense of organized chaos until the viewer has a chance to truly take in the breadth of the creations on display. There’s a constant theme running from artist to artist: appreciating nature, whether through landscape paintings or bronze animal sculptures or painted feathers.

The gallery’s name, Wild Eye, comes from a drawing Green did, showing half of a mountain lion’s face, with a sharp, fierce green eye. Green said the one eye took him about five hours of work, and after that, he realized the drawing was complete.

Originally from Iowa, Green’s background as an outdoor guide brought him to Montana 13 years ago when he worked in Big Sky, near Bozeman, where he guided elk hunts and led trail rides.

While there, he heard from a friend that the Flathead was an even better outdoor paradise, and though he was skeptical, he decided to check it out.

“I thought Big Sky was pretty until I came up here,” Green said.

He was a hunting guide in Illinois and the Blue Ridge Mountains, wracking up experience in the wild and an increasing appreciation for the nature around him. As a taxidermist, he was allowed a certain amount of creativity, and eventually an interest in art followed.

However, guiding and taxidermy take time, and art sat on the backburner. Soon, tired of not ever getting to hunt himself, Green moved back to Iowa and began working for a plumbing business for five years.

But, like the mountain lion drawing, Green knew when to stop. He grew bored, and wanted to be immersed in nature once more. This time, though, he added his love for art to the mix, creating his gallery.

He arrived in the Flathead on Jan. 27, three days before he could access the gallery’s space, and worked to have it open by Feb. 20. The main concern, he said, was that he wouldn’t have enough artists to fill the space; he already had eight national artists signed on, but Green wasn’t sure about the local artists.

But the connections he made as a guide came through: In the gallery’s front window sits a moose antler intricately carved to feature a scene of elk in the wild. Green got in contact with the artist, Dustin Nielson, through a friend he made at guiding school in Darby, Montana.

“I would have never known him if I hadn’t gone to guide school,” Green said.

Now, the Wild Eye walls are full of Montana and national artists, pushing 30 total. The downstairs area has three rooms for more wall space, and Green intends on hosting art classes there as well. He also plans to host a grand opening party on June 5, complete with music, food and beverages.

Artist James Corwin, who grew up in Kalispell, will rent studio space in the basement as well, Green said, and will be on hand to discuss his work hanging in the gallery.

And as the gallery’s owner, Green has more time to pursue his own art. During slow times, he paints. He sells commissions and has his own art on display, all while maintaining a serious connection to the outdoors.

“I haven’t had one bad day since I’ve opened,” Green said.

For more information, visit www.wildeyeartistry.com.