Art In Polson:
Bringing more Art to Polson
Art in Polson is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fundraising for and expanding public art installations in Polson, Montana. By forging strategic partnerships with local businesses, we strive to weave art into the fabric of our neighborhoods—bringing the community into art, and art into the community.
How Can You Help?
Volunteer to paint a mural
Donate unused art to sell
Suggest Fundraising ideas
Invite folks to visit the murals and traffic box art
Submit an entry for a mural
Paint/install miniature art
Take a class at Alpine Designs
Help at The Cherry Festival to sell art, Ninepipes First Saturday and Delaneys Arts Festival (Nov 28)
Meet The Team
Natalie Raffield is an artist, muralist, gallery founder, and public art organizer whose work has connected artists and communities across South Africa, Canada, Ghana, Colorado, and Montana. She has opened galleries in both South Africa and Canada, helped operate an artist co-op in Northwest Canada, and supported exhibitions for 15 artists. In Red Lake, Ontario, she managed a museum project that brought together 50 artists to install community banners, while also teaching ballet and offering lessons for injured miners and local residents.
Her commitment to collaborative arts continued in Colorado, where she served as Exhibitions and Membership Chair for a co-op that presented exhibitions in five local businesses and grew membership to 110 artists. She also worked with Parks and Recreation in Castle Rock, Colorado, to help facilitate mural projects that encouraged public participation and civic pride.
Natalie’s work is deeply informed by conservation, education, and community service. She has been a member of Conservation Artists in Canada and received recognition through Ducks Unlimited and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year program in London. In Ghana, she hosted exhibitions to support breast cancer prevention and created a documentary to assist rangers in elephant conservation efforts at Mole National Park.
For the past three years, Natalie has focused her public art efforts in Polson, Montana, first through a local gallery and then through Art In Polson, the nonprofit she founded. Through this work, she has managed and fundraised for 15 public art projects throughout the community. Natalie believes in the power of bringing artists together to create meaningful public spaces, inspire local pride, and help beautify the places people call home.
Karla has loved art since she was a young child. She was a teacher and production manager in performing arts for 24 years for the Charlo Valley View and Ronan districts. Karla assisted a recovery program in Libby, Montana for 25 years, using art and music to help patients overcome their struggles. Her passion for art and self expression grew through the use of a variety of media. She experiments with painting, sculpting, photography, special effects makeup, wood working, and even welding. Eventually as time went on she developed more of an interest in painting.
Her style has changed over the years and she enjoys using a bright color palette that you don’t often think of when it comes to nature. She loves painting natural like things in unnatural color palettes that bring an overall lightness to her work.
Karla’s wildlife picture books are available in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as in State Parks across the Northwest. She self illustrates, writes, and publishes her books, making each a true labor of love.
Karla painted the murals at Boettcher Park and was chosen to have her art on a traffic box here in Polson.
This author also has her children’s books accepted in The Global Library Catalogue.
Patsi’s fresh, contemporary artwork is inspired by the rich textures and vibrant colors inherent in nature. Her landscapes evoke the serenity and strength of the Rocky Mountain region and are often comprised of snow-capped peaks, golden-leafed aspens, and meandering streams.
Depending on her mood and the location, Patsi paints with acrylic or oil using palette knife, exploring themes of light and reflection. Discovering the palette knife technique was a major turning point in Patsi’s career. Implementing this method transformed not only her work, which enjoyed more commercial success, but also her soul as an artist. Patsi found herself relaxing fully into the process while creating texture and color to bring the viewer into the painting.
Patsi studied at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, earning her BFA in 2001. She also holds an associate degree in commercial art. Her pieces are showcased in galleries throughout Colorado and Montana, and her work has been accepted in juried, member, and individual shows.
Originally from rural Indiana, Patsi moved west after falling in love with the beauty of the mountains. She initially landed outside of Missoula, and has since lived in Colorado and San Francisco. Today, she can be found hiking the high country, having an off-road adventure, or painting on the front porch of her mountain cabin in Montana’s Mission Valley.
Patsi has spearheaded the artists of Polson Studio Tours in Polson.
Jeanne Frolander
Jeanne is a long-time resident of Montana’s Mission Valley, where she grew up in the foothills of the mountains and later raised her son Christopher, who, with his wife Amanda, have blessed Jeanne with four beautiful grandchildren. She is married to Scott, and together they have built their life in the community she has always called home. Jeanne feels that the Lord has blessed her with an amazing family and a curiosity for life that continues to inspire her every day. Now retired from a career dedicated to serving others, she has more time to devote to her lifelong passion for art and creativity. Jeanne has been creating art since she was a small child and has always enjoyed exploring different types of art and working with a variety of mediums. From sculptural pieces and acrylic painting to woodworking, she enjoys experimenting, playing with new ideas, and learning new techniques. Her surroundings provide a constant source of inspiration. The changing seasons, mountain views, open skies, wildlife, and simple beauty of rural Montana all find their way into the way she sees and creates art.
We want more art
Bring your ideas to life
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you have an idea for public art here in Polson? Maybe you want to improve your business with a mural?
Build a fundraising platform
It starts with a dream, then add many willing volunteers that love art and you build a creative community.
Expand your art experiences.
Contact us if you would like to fundraise, volunteer, create art and improve beautiful Polson.
