Bozeman Magazine

Chinese art comes to Montana with the “East Meets West” Chinese art exhibit at Shane Lalani Center for the Arts in Livingston. The exhibit is sponsored by the Yellowstone Asia Initiative (YAI), an entrepreneurial project started by a group of Montanans working to expand and create relationships between Montana and China, along with 188ART, a Chinese art firm representing premier young artists in China and bringing 6 artists and approximately 100 pieces of art to Livingston.  This exhibit is part of a worldwide tour including Sidney, Australia and Frankfurt, Germany, and brings Chinese art and tourism to Montana. Most of the art scheduled to come to Livingston this summer is currently on display in Shanghai’s prestigious Museum of Contemporary Art. Troy Selland, Livingston native and founder of YAI, says the “East Meets West” exhibit serves as a springboard for further cultural and economic development in cities and towns around Yellowstone Park, and Livingston, Montana is the only U.S. stop for the exhibit’s 2014 worldwide tour.  Organizers of the exhibit originally planned to find a venue in either New York or Los Angeles, Selland said, but he was able to convince them to choose Livingston instead.  Livingston City Commissioners have shown support for the YAI’s Chinese art exhibit by signing a letter of support to be used in attracting tourists to the exhibit.

The city of Livingston, Montana is the gateway to the Yellowstone National Park and is located in the heart of Montana’s aptly named “Paradise Valley.”  Livingston is a city in, and the county seat of Park County.  Livingston is located in southwestern Montana on the Yellowstone River north of Yellowstone National Park.  Its population was 7,044 on the 2010 census.  Selland says within the hustle and bustle of Livingston’s downtown area lies a new revival movement of new businesses and people committed to change, all making Livingston the perfect place to host the July 5th-August 15th “East Meets West” exhibit. Along with the exhibit, Selland said YAI is sponsoring the Opening Ceremony with art viewing, fun events, food, and music at the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts in Livingston on July 5 and July 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Also the local artists “The Grangers”  folk/blue grass will be playing during opening ceremonies for a twist of Montana soul.

In an amazing cultural exchange opportunity, 188ART is accepting the work of American Western artists to take back to China for exhibit and to sell.  

Read more about Yellowstone Asia Initiative at www.yellowstoneasia.com