See Bozeman Creek

“Who are we when we are here?”

—Larry Kirkland

VISION

See Bozeman Creek is Bozeman’s opportunity to highlight and bring to life Bozeman Creek, the waterway running through the heart of our community. Generating ideas and cultivating support through specific community working groups, public art is at the forefront of raising awareness to foster engagement, appreciation and create local identity in downtown Bozeman. Art is a catalyst for change and this project will bridge diverse cultures and water, emphasizing the importance of seeing and living sensitively with nature.

“Art changes everything.” —Eloise Damrosch

THE NOW

Times are crazy. Times are scary. And time is evolving faster than anyone can predict. All at once, each of us and all of us are in desperate need of emotional togetherness, physical space, and fresh Montana air.

The good news?

We are here for you. And, we believe that art has the power to communicate what words and numbers cannot. That’s why See Bozeman Creek is more important than ever.

“To understand the ‘why’ of a project before it’s a ‘what.’” —Maya Lin

THE WHY

In this unprecedented time, Bozeman Creek carries on as always. First and foremost, SeeBozemanCreek will highlight the waterway—the lifeline—that meanders through the heart of Bozeman. In order to do this, SeeBozemanCreek will support local artists in creating art that engages the community, while helping us foster a deep appreciation for nature and to #See Bozeman Creek differently.

We seek public art that inspires:

IDENTITY: Projects that explore our area history as it relates to Indigenous communities and European settlers, as well as this very new, current era.

CONNECTION: Projects that unite segmented portions of the creek—bringing the hidden sections into visibility—while safely connecting each of us to one another.

INTERACTIVITY AND PLAY: Projects that allow us to safely engage with the creek and each another.

CIVIC DIALOGUE: Projects that highlight our collective hopes, fears, and responsibilities. Projects that speak to social injustices, challenging us to think differently, advocate for diversity, kindness, and justice.

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY: Projects that honor and celebrate the earth that keeps on keepin’ on—although we rarely place it front and center. Projects that directly address climate change and our need to adapt immediately to care for our earth and support its resiliency.

COMMUNITY PROMPTS

What do the leaders of Bozeman need to know from the community about how we can best revitalize the Creek for the enjoyment of all?

What could Bozeman Creek become if we as a community paid attention and honored it rather than ignored it?
What can we contribute to the Creek, and what does it contribute to us?
What would be possible if the spirit of the creek were to be fully expressed?
Does nature speak differently to you in times of uncertainty and fear?

Restoration and Access

Ecological restoration—an often-overlooked tool in placemaking—helps to protect and revitalize urban waterways while fostering advocacy. Native plantings, healthy stream banks, green infrastructure, and floodplain restoration are a few key strategies to help bring ecological health front and center.

A healthy creek system is where the creek’s natural geometry creates dynamism, ecological variety, and improved flooding mitigation. This can be accomplished with relatively low investment actions, done in concert with public land or adjacent land owners.

How can adjacent land owners feel an increasingly sense of involvement in and connection with the creek and community?
What role can ecological restoration play in #SeeBozemanCreek?

Interpretation

Making water visible and expressing its value is key to building a sense of understanding and dedicated stewardship. Public art, both temporary and permanent—with a focus on engaging a diverse range of storytellers from the past to the present—can capture the broad cultural legacies and stories associated with shared landscapes.

What individual communities can we seek for the most diverse interpretations of Bozeman Creek?
What areas/populations are missing in the community’s existing interpretation of Bozeman Creek?

Activation

What does activation mean for Bozeman Creek?
How can Bozeman Creek be highlighted as an existing, extended outdoor resource that can be used safely?
How can we use art to create engagement with the water’s edge and the water itself, allowing the public to experience the dynamism of the water over the course of days and seasons?
How can we best activate Bozeman Creek while building community appreciation for Bozeman Creek (encouraging better stewarding practices now and forever)?

WHAT’S NEXT?

Pop-up art along Bozeman Creek to lift your spirit!
Virtual campfires “along the creek” with Indigenous storytelling, song, and dance.
Audio recordings by Extreme History Project for self-paced walks along the creek.
Maps of the past, present, and future Bozeman Creek.
Engaging the community through social media using #SeeBozemanCreek.
Highlighting and celebrating the work done to-date surrounding Bozeman Creek.
Your input. Email us at francesca@mountaintimearts.org with your ideas about what SeeBozemanCreek can become.
Stay safe, stay creative, stay engaged!

CHECK OUT OUR FIRST TWO ARTWORKS

#SeeBozemanCreek is an ongoing, multi-year effort to revitalize Bozeman Creek.

Our pilot project premiered in 2020 with the creek between us at Tuckerman Park. You can relive this experience by heading to the parking lot at Tuckerman Park and experiencing our Audio Tour creekside.

Our second artwork was unveiled on Earth Day 2023 at City Hall. Revitaliseʌᴉʇɐlǝɹ is a pair of images and words, digitally printed onto laminated glass panels that will be installed as a frieze atop the railings of the pedestrian bridge leading to the entrance to City Hall. Created by artists, Ben Pease and Jim Madden, these two glass panels greet visitors to City Hall with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the Indigenous history of land and water in the valley. The importance of Bozeman Creek and its place within the Gallatin watershed is highlighted. The experience of Pease’s imagery is enhanced by the sound of rushing water and the view, through the glass, of the water flowing in the creek. The installation is a welcoming respite in our hurried world and a reminder of our cultural heritage as people conduct their civic affairs at City Hall. Listen to the Audio Experience that compliments this artwork and take your experience a little deeper.

RESOURCES

Downtown Bozeman Partnership Bozeman Creek Downtown Plan References