Southeast Montana News

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for an art installation by artist Mariah Gladstone, Amskapi Piikani (Blackfeet), is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd at 1 pm at North Park near the intersection of 7th Ave. N and N. 22nd St. This event is part of the larger North Park grand re-opening happening throughout the afternoon.

The artwork, titled "Eternal Presence," aims to celebrate Indigenous identity in Billings. The installation results from a call for artists issued by the City of Billings in summer 2023. It consists of two statues representing traditional Blackfoot symbols for men and women, featuring scenes from Billings' natural and built environment. The man statue includes the rimrocks and the Yellowstone River, while the woman statue depicts the Billings skyline with a tipi behind it.

According to Gladstone: “The juxtaposition of the modern skyline with the lodge celebrates the longevity of Indigenous presence on the land. Because those elements are depicted within the sculptural people, it also indicates the existence of traditional and modern urban Indigeneity inside of Billings’ current Native population.” The faces are painted using traditional beadwork styles.

"Eternal Presence" is part of a series of public art installations along Billings’ first neighborhood bikeway in summer 2024 as part of the Mobilize the MAGIC City initiative. The project seeks to celebrate Billings, highlight public art's role in neighborhood revitalization, and reduce traffic speeds by activating key points along the bikeway. Funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts and various local donations. Partners include the City of Billings, Billings Arts Association, Healthy By Design Coalition, and Triia. Additional artwork was created by Artist in Residence Terri Porta.

For more information, visit www.billingsmt.gov/3093/Mobilize-the-MAGIC-City-Project.