Founded in 1975 and accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1987, the Missoula (Montana) Art Museum (MAM) is emerging as the leading contemporary art museum in the Intermountain West. MAM is a spectacular attraction in the heart of Missoula's historic downtown: a fully accessible, free, public museum that boasts eight exhibition spaces, a library, education center, and an inviting information lounge.
Montana was once known as The Treasure State because its economic history is based on the exploitation of natural resources with little or no concern for the environmental consequences of this exploitation. On display in the gift shop area is Stephen Braun’s wall-based sculpture Montana Legacy which depicts environmental destruction, land use issues, the mining, timber and oil industries, and humanity’s disassociation from nature. The sculpture is constructed from 91 separate bas-relief ceramic tiles that collectively form a map of Montana.
The toxic legacy of the smelter smoke from Anaconda killed trees, streams, fish, and people.
Open pit mining has scarred the landscape, destroyed communities, and left highly toxic ponds of water that kill waterfowl.
The legacy of clear-cut timber harvest is seen in a forest of decaying stumps.
Museums 101
Museum of Glass: Out of the Vault (Art Diary)
Museums 101: Torsos and Hands by Rodin (Photo Diary)
Museum 101: 18th Century Japanese Prints (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Animal Sculptures (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Maryhill Sculpture Park (Photo Diary)
Museum of Glass: Spotlight on Dale Chihuly (Art Diary)
Museums 101: Lewis and Clark through paintings (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Sculptures of the Human Body (Photo Diary)