Art House Billings Presents The Makers

Ed Kemmick has been a newspaper reporter, editor, and columnist since 1980. Except for four years in his home state of Minnesota, he has spent his entire journalism career in Montana. He founded Last Best News, a digital newspaper based in Billings, in 2014, and before that was well known as a columnist and journalist at the Billings Gazette.  Keep your eye out for Ed's work as he continues to wri...

Kendra Langford Shaw is not only an accomplished author with her new (long awaited) novel being released this year, but she is also a Billings City Council Member helping our community be one of the best places to live, work and play.  Don't miss "The Pillagers' Guide to Arctic Pianos" out now! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2330118/kendra-langford-shaw/   https://www.facebook.com/kend...

Parker Brown is on The Makers!  Many have asked, wondered and speculated that this man would be on the podcast at some point and today is the day.  Parker is an established and celebrated local musician in Billings who continues to innovate, influence and share his work with our community and beyond.  As a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist he is always evolving but staying true to who he is and...

Billings native Seth Royal Kroft is proud to own and operate Billings’ only photographic art gallery offering top quality wall art on a variety of mediums such as Chromaluxe aluminum, acrylic, gallery wrapped canvas and premium photo paper. When not in Billings, Seth spends most of his time photographing wildlife in Yellowstone and Teton National Parks, camping in the Beartooth Mountains with his...

Jessica is the Executive Director of the Yellowstone Art Museum.  She is not only a museum director and educator, but she's passionate about creating inclusive, mission-driven cultural spaces where art connects people, ideas, and communities. Through thoughtful leadership and collaborative planning, She works to ensure museums are both creatively inspiring and operationally resilient.  So much goo...

Brad is an Owner, Principal and Commercial Design Leader at Cushing Terrell.  He's been in Billings for years and making so much happen as we grow and develop as a community.  As an architect, Brad is responsible for working on many different projects and pieces over the years that have made our city (and region) what it is.  Listen in and follow along with all the things happening in Brad's world...

Chris Smith is someone who's been in Billings creating great things for decades, but there's a chance you haven't heard of him and we can't wait to change that.  Chris has had a career of music in churches, but in the midst of regularly singing, playing, and leading bands on the weekends, he's also been writing and creating some great music.  There's a lot to discover (stylistically and content-wi...

Bess Fredlund is a Maker!  If you've been in the arts/dance world at all in Billings, MT, we are sure you've heard of or at least experienced the impact of what Bess has brought to our community.  Whether it's The Yoga Center, Rocky Mountain College, Alberta Bair Theater, The Fringe Festival, or one of the many other things she's created or been a part of, chances are you've have heard of or inter...

Morgan is a lawyer in Billings who not only creates beauty through her professional career, but someone who has chosen to spend her time and energy in the world of modern dance as well.  If you don't know...Billings has an incredible modern dance scene and Morgan (with Arc) are foundational for that scene.  Don't miss our discussion of all things dance, community, planning, and more!  Don't miss c...

Chef Ashley is in the (Art) House!  Ashley is one who's been so supportive and engaged in Art House Billings for years and we are so excited to sit with her, learn more about her, hear what she's got going on, and invite more and more people to engage with her work.  She's got a lot going on, but if you're interested you can always find out what she's up to by following along (links below): kitche...

He's a guitarist, a teacher, a record label executive, a husband, a father, and just an all around great guy...Alex Nauman!  Whether you've been super engaged in the Billings music scene in the last decade (plus) or you have causally found yourself in spaces with live music, chances are you have run into and heard Alex.  He continues to push our community forward musically and we couldn't be more...

Onyx is a local drag queen in Billings who is not only bringing their joy and art to our community through great performances, but making substantial waves in her creation of and leadership in The Brick Haus.  Don't miss this opportunity to not only hear from an incredible artist, but possibly learn something new about an art form you possibly haven't experienced (at least Matt learned a lot)! You...

You know him (hopefully), you love him (if not yet, you will)...it's Brian Oestreich!  Brian is the Creative Director of Art House Billings and is responsible for all programming, booking, theater tech, marketing, design, film knowledge, and hot takes.  He's someone who has become integral to what makes Art House "Art House".  We are so excited to not just have him on the team, but to have the opp...

Jake Iverson has been the Arts and Entertainment Reporter at the Billings Gazette the past few years, but has recently moved into the City Editor position.  Whether he's writing about arts and culture or speaking to local news in general, we are fortunate to have the work and art that Jake brings regularly to our community.  He's got a passion for music, film, baseball, history, and helping those...

Jon Lodge grew up in Red Lodge, Montana, and studied jazz performance and composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston in the 1960s. After becoming the school’s photographer and art director, he gradually migrated into visual media. Lodge’s work fuses systems and methodologies of music and visual art with idiosyncratic materials and processes to operate in what he calls a planned system of ra...

Larry Bean is a local artist/photographer who brings vibrancy and emotion to black and white photos that are sure to move you.  Not only is this skill present it his visual art, but his personality and process behind his work is one that is sure to move you as well.  There's so much to see and explore in this episode or by heading to his website at https://www.larrybeanphotography.com/  

Ruth has been a consistent force of progress and support for our community and our history for decades now. She's one of the smartest, kindest, and most passionate people we've interacted with on this topic, and it was great to sit down with her. It's an opportunity to hear her story, what she's passionate about, and where she hopes to see things move forward.

Nick Steen is the owner and chef at Walkers Grill.  If you haven't been to Walkers...you're missing out on some incredible food, but more than that, you're missing out on some incredible culture and experiences.  Nick continues to innovate and create through not only his culinary creations, but the way he treats his staff and patrons and Billings is better for it.  Listen in to hear about all the...

We are so excited to sit down with one of Billings most influential and pioneering leaders and makers, Corby Skinner.  As you'll discover in this interview, Corby has been involved in a lot over the years and his choice to continue in creating and investing in so many organizations, artists, and people shows.  While there's a long list of accomplishments for Corby up to this point, there's even mo...

Shane de Leon is an artist, musician, and owner of Kirks’ Grocery. His current work focuses on paper and fabric with glue, acrylic paint, glitter, trash, and watercolor, and is becoming more conceptual and sculptural. Born in Billings, MT. He has worked under many aliases including Starbage Hands, Starbage Can, Olive Analog, Tina Bortions, Shane de leon, Deleon King, Shane de Leon Sauers von Werss...

Matt had the opportunity to sit down with Manette Rene Bradford and boy was it good!  Manette is a local artist doing some incredible work and is currently the artist in residence at the Yellowstone Art Museum. Not only is her work incredible, but what she puts into her pieces (the thought, story, philosophy) is what truly shines through in this conversation.  Don't miss out on all the great work...

Gordon has been a close friend, support, and influencer of all things Art House for years.  He's someone that exudes joy and generosity in all things and we couldn't be more honored to sit with him and hear his thoughts as a maker in our community. Don't miss his work now showing at www.kirksgrocery.com

Welcome to the first episode of "The Makers"! The more we (Art House Billings) work to connect Billings through great film, art, and culture, the more we find great people who are doing similar work. Grant Jones is one of those people. Through his thoughtful and artistic songwriting, Grant helps us see the world, ourselves, and our relationships in a unique, honest, and loving way. It also helps t...