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It was over 40 years ago, according to Leo Olson that he, BAA President Quinn Ireson and Fine Arts Chariman Dee Gubser used a big old iron key to open the front bars of the Yellowstone County Jail and began the task of turning it into an Art Center.
Months previous to this Walt Woodcock had come to a BAA meeting and announced that the old jail was to be sold and that we should try to talk the county commissioners into making it an art center. Persuasion by Woodcock, Bob Fehlberg and especially by the late Mayor Willard Fraser and the promise of an army of volunteer laborers convinced the commissioners of the viability.
At the next BAA meeting Quinn scheduled a work session and asked everyone to show up and pitch in. Saturday morning there was just the three of them. A few more showed up in the afternoon. About all that was accomplished that day was some chipping of many layers of paint, some obliteration of some of the worst graffiti and some general cussing concerning the hordes that were not there.
Over time the ranks of volunteers swelled and it soon became apparent that professional craftsmen, plumbers, welders, carpenters etc. were needed. John Self stepped in. He was instrumental in getting the journeyman craftsmen involved and virtually lived at the art center to be for the duration of the remodeling. BAA people including the Fehlbergs, Ed Hakert, Ireson, Gubser and Olson put the finishing touches like paint, burlap and so on to the Center.
The first BAA Christmas show was held upstairs in the Art Center in 1965 when Olson was President and a spring show was held on the lawn the next year. These annual shows continued until the Art Center was renamed the Yellowstone Art Museum.
And yes there was a hook above the second landing of the main staircase. It’s purpose was never ascertained.
When the Yellowstone Art Museum became a Contemporary Art Museum, it no longer supported the local art community and chose to display art that was shown in the larger cities. It’s goal at that time was to educate Montana Artists as to what was being shown in the broader art world. In the last few years the word contemporary was dropped from the name and is now the Yellowstone Art Museum. The Museum now displays contemporary art but also displays more local art from Montana artists and has student exhibits and drawing classes.
Through the years, the main goal of the BAA was to encourage participation, and appreciation of the Arts whether it be painting, sculpture, photography, writing or just supporting the artists. BAA has accomplished through Art Exhibits, Speakers, Workshops, Parties and now Auctions. Newsletters keep the membership informed about local events and now a website will also help keep members up to date.