"Art on the Walls"

Tara Mathers is a Montana cowgirl.  She has grown up in Plains riding horses, going to rodeos and bull riding. Although she looks the part of a rugged, young cowgirl; she lights up when she talks about her future. 

Mathers, 18, has become a successful artist who recently launched her own business in November 2010 called, “Crazy MT Cowgirl Art.” Mathers’ focus is western art; ranging from cowboys and landscapes to trucks and horses.

“My favorite subject is horses,” said Mathers.  “Since I have been around them most of my life, I can usually get them right.”

Along with graduating from Plains High School this spring, and planning her summer wedding, Mathers is busy making her art.  She is currently a featured artist at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital’s “Art on the Walls” show.   The exhibit, which began January 25th, and runs through March 30th, features students’ art from local county schools, and was brought to the hospital by the Sanders County Arts Council.

“We have student art ranging from Kindergarteners to graduating seniors in the exhibit,” said Joy Nelson, the Sanders County Arts Council publicity chair.  “Some of the art is just for show and some is for sale.”

Mathers took her first art class in seventh grade and continued taking classes throughout high school.  She is in advanced and independent classes right now; working on five pieces at once.  Mathers said she owes of lot to her high school art teacher Kristen Cole.

“Tara has been a student of mine for at least six years, and I even had her in some elementary school art classes when I used to teach younger kids,” said Cole.  “She is a very self motivated student and I am happy to see her break through to the next professional level of printing and selling her artwork.”

“I like to work in charcoal mostly for sketches, and my favorite color medium is water colors,” said Mathers.  I’m starting to explore with different mediums, such as oil paints and acyrlics. “

The idea to bring art to the hospital came from a patient, said Nelson.  By taking advantage of the empty walls, track lighting and bright hallways, the exhibit has brought color, and visual stimulation to patients, employees and visitors at the hospital. 

Clark Fork Valley  hospital in Plains is also one of the largest buildings in the county, and there are few other venues to have large art exhibits, said Nelson.

“The artwork brings a lot of joyfulness to our patients.  It really brightens their day,” said Tonya Revier, the Clark Fork Valley Hospital’s marketing coordinator.

The art show is free and open to the public.