Plains art students spread Christmas cheer

Early Thursday morning, around 30 art students from Kristen Coles’ class descended on 14 Plains businesses. Their canvases for the day were the windows of businesses along Railroad Avenue. Their goal is to bring color and cheer to the business district for all to see. 

Many of the art students are participating for the first time in what has been a tradition for almost 20 years. Each of the budding artists broke up into groups of two and three, with painting supplies in hand and with window painting designs in mind, ranging from Christmas trees, Santa’s sleigh, and the Grinch. 

Art students LeAnna Demars, Emma Dimond, Brady Tucker, Atlas Owens and Shay Nelson shared their talents on the windows of the Circle.  

Nelson, a freshman said, “It’s fun and gets me out of school.”  

Circle owner Joe Camboa said window painting has been a tradition for many years. The Circle started back on July 4, 1969. The building was originally a grain silo owned by the Larson Ranch. 

Lyla MacDonald and Montana Taylor were busy painting a Santa at Mt West Dentist.   

“We are doing it for the holiday spirit.” MacDonald said.   

Taylor commented, “It’s fun and I enjoy it (painting) with friends.”  

This is the third year Mt West Dentist has had the students paint their windows.  

The Printery continued their long-standing window painting tradition with 11th grader Ashton Riek and 10th grader Jalen Petterson adding a colorful Christmas tree to their windows. 

Sanders County Library took part for the first time.  Library Director Kikki Ericksen said they had to move things around to be able to give Senior Jasmine Trull and 11th graders Jullian Keeney and Steve Anderson room to paint their windows.  

Mayor Banham toured the finished window painting and said, “It was wonderful.” 

The artists share their talents at no cost to the business. It is a community service that the school provides.  

The following businesses also took part: McGowan Grocery, Stockman’s Bank, Em’s Café, USPS, Studs, Fabric Pixie, 406 Outlet, Clark Fork Valley Hospital and Mountain West Clothing. 

    Freshman LeAnna Demarss works on a Christmas tree painting at the Plains Circle restaurant. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Plains junior Altas Owens lights up the Circle with window art. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Senior Ava Warta paints a Santa and sleigh at McGowan Grocery. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Plains High School students Ashton Riek and Jalen Petterson add the Christmas spirit to the Printerys windows. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)