Art Contest "Wild West Montana"

Grand Prize: $500

2^ndPlace: $250

3^rdPlace: $150

4^thPlace: $100

ATR in Hamilton hosted its second annual art contest for high school students and presented awards and $3,000 in prizes Thursday.

“Wild West Montana” was the theme for the nearly 40 entries in photography, paint, sketch and drawing. The awards ceremony included an artist reception and display of all entries.

Elliott and Grace Lander, owners of ATR, said they value art and the art contest is important.

“It lets kids express themselves and understand what is going on in the valley and Montana,” Elliott said. “From the innovation perspective, imagination perspective and from the art perspective, it was great to be able to sponsor the art contest. We are pleased.”

Grace said the contest was “exciting with big prizes.”

“Our other office is in Texas where there is a lot of art and contests and here you don’t have a lot,” Grace said. “It is really neat to help build the art community and we want to help people have an appreciation for Montana where they live.”

The contest judges were art experts Heather Murphy from Green Door Photography in Missoula, Tamar Stanley, director of the Ravalli County Museum, and Doug Cassens and Keith McMasters from In Search of Art Ltd. on Main Street in Hamilton.

“We expanded the categories this time to add photos and sketches along with the paintings,” Grace said.

“It’s great to see the work of the kids and we appreciate all the entries,” Elliot said. “We’ll add sculpture as a category for next year.”

The contest was open to all Bitterroot Valley high school students and Darby, Corvallis, Hamilton and Florence students entered the contest