Local artists hosted November Business After Hours

Four local artists hosted the Chinook Area Chamber's recent November Business After Hours at the Blaine County Library meeting room. The four artists exhibited some of their work and greeted visitors. Each artist had a table with examples of their varied artistic styles.

Cory Couturier was asked to host the Business After Hours event for November. He said, "I knew of several other artists and decided to invite them to participate as well." Couturier had examples of his paintings, prints and coffee cups with his art. His latest painting is of the old Chinook water tower, which was on display during the event. Couturier recently completed a work for an outdoor display in Great Falls and a larger painting that will be exhibited each summer on the office of the Blaine County fairgrounds.

Terri Meyer, who is relatively new to Chinook, described her painting style as "abstract expressionism." She said, "This is my first time exhibiting my work and I'm very excited about it. I moved to Chinook about four years ago. With family responsibilities I hadn't painted for a while. I've just gotten back into painting during the last two years."

Tomi Simenson, who does western-themed art, is well known both locally and throughout the state and region. She has won several awards including a recent Quick Draw contest at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale last spring. Simenson won Best in Show at the Harlem Seed Show in both 2013 and 2014. She's had several pieces accepted for the Southeastern Montana juried exhibit and one of those pieces was part of 24 works that were exhibited across Montana and North Dakota for a year.

Ken Martin is best known for his miniature welded sculptures of farm and ranch scenes. He had several of those on display during the Business After Hours event. His artistic talents are varied-even restoring and showing antique tractors during parades and public events in the area. He shared a photo of an idea, and his next project, that will honor his grandfather, a violin player.

Guests were treated to a great table of food and several art pieces were given away as door prizes.

Couturier, at the end of the event, said, "I thought it went extremely well. The space was just right and the turnout was very good. It's always good to let locals see the works of people who live right here in Chinook."

The Chamber's next Business After Hours will be hosted by Jamieson Motors on Dec 10.