Art Gallery Leveled after Bozeman Blast
Jan Perkins, “Ten O’Clock in the Morning,” Oil, 5″ x 5″, 2008
Our hearts go out to the Bozeman, Montana community, Montana Trails Gallery and its staff, and all of the artists affected this week by a natural gas explostion. One person is still missing after the explosion shook downtown Bozeman early Thursday morning, destroying several businesses and prompting the shutdown of a portion of the city’s downtown. This tragedy affects thousands in Bozeman and elsewhere.
The explosion occurred at about 8:15 a.m. in the 200 block of Main Street. Crews allowed the fire to burn into the afternoon because they could not completely shut off natural gas. Several businesses were destroyed including Boodles restaurant, the Rocking R Bar, Pickle Barrel that is located in the Rocking R Bar, Montana Trails Gallery, the American Legion building and Lilly Lu’s children’s store. Bozeman is a small mountain resort town, similar to Park City
Debris was launched over a 3 block radius and, while Bozeman has calmed somewhat, work has just begun for those who will clean up and investigate the devastating natural gas explosion.
One of our Gallery MAR artists, Jan Perkins, shows with Montana Trails Gallery as do other friends of the gallery. This is a grim reminder to always manage your artwork carefully, document when your pieces are hanging, and make sure that your works are insured properly.
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Yes, thank you Maren for posting this. It is a huge tragedy. The body of Tara Bowman, the director of Montana Trails Gallery, was identified today. Her life was lost in the explosion.
I sincerely thank Tara for all she has done for me and my art career. My wildlife paintings were represented and sold by Tara and Montana Trails for three years. I send my heart felt thoughts and prayers to her husband, family, friends and staff at the gallery. I am so sorry for their tremendous loss.
My heart goes out to Tara Bowman’s friends and family, and to you, Jan.
Thanks Maren for posting the news of this tragedy. I have had work with the gallery since 2006 and Tara was a real champion of my work. She even bought one of my large pieces. My heart goes out to her family and friends and I am so sorry for their terrible loss.
Thank you for your article. I made a video of my reaction as I drove past the destroyed buildings, and as I drove past, the thought of the life lost and the wonderful buildings and gallery lost as well was just overpowering.
I have an artist friend who has been completely devastated by this event. Tara was inspirational to this man. She sold a lot of his work. He lost all his paintings in that gallery, but that meant nothing to him. Only the loss of Mrs. Bowman was what affected him.
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