Curator Talk: Seek the Sun: Group Show

Seek the Sun is a juried group exhibition inspired by the painting in the Holter Permanent Collection, Gold Sunlight, by Nolan Salix. His painting is of the Golden Sunlight Mine located just outside of Whitehall, Montana.
This exhibition aims to highlight the duality of Montana and the broader western U.S. landscape. Known as “God’s Country” and “The Last Best Place,” Montana has the highest number of Superfund sites in the country 19, including the Smelter Site in East Helena. Superfund sites are polluted locations designated by the EPA for long-term hazardous waste cleanup. Responsibility for funding cleanup lies with the site owners, which is often a reason for delays. The contradictions are stark; as deregulation advances, confidence diminishes in the belief that extractive industries will prioritize safety and environmental health. Recently, the EPA launched the “greatest day of deregulation in U.S. history,” rolling back 31 major climate and energy regulations. Despite the region’s reputation as one of the greatest examples of natural beauty in the world, protecting and shepherding it seems increasingly elusive as the years pass.