Montana
Montana Painters Alliance Visiting Whitehall, Will Present at Black Tie & Blue Jeans
From June 13th through 15th, the Montana Painters Alliance (MPA) will hold its 2024 Spring Paint Out in and around Whitehall. Artists will work in Whitehall and the area outside of town, and the community will be welcome to stop, observe, and meet the artists at work.
On Saturday, June 15th, the MPA artists will meet and display their work in their “Tailgate Salon” at the Whitehall Community Center. While their display will be part of the Whitehall Chamber’s annual fundraiser, Black Tie & Blue Jeans, the Tailgate Salon will be open to all – no BTBJ ticket is needed to view these wonderful Whitehall pieces.
The Montana Painters Alliance has 23 artists who work to hone their skills as professional artists by getting together twice a year to paint in different locations around the state. Sharing painting ideas and techniques happens naturally as artists paint together, and doing so in beautiful locations around the state is the icing on the cake. The artists work in various mediums outside or “en plein air.”
Plein Air painting is like boot camp for artists, as one is constantly challenged by the rigors of outdoor painting-the changing light, rain, heat or cold, bugs in one’s paint, and the Montana wind. One must find the essence of the subject, simplify, and paint quickly-all great exercises and inherent lessons for the working artist.
Let it also be said that there is much camaraderie around the campfire in the evenings, with good food and drink and good music (by our illustrious Chuck Fulcher and sometimes others as well). Of course, many tall tales are shared!
As a result of their paint-outs, the MPA has organized shows in museums and galleries across the state. Individual name recognition is a by-product of these shows, related magazine articles, workshops, and group advertising.
About twenty years ago, artist Tom English and a small cadre of like-minded painters who regularly got together to paint outdoors began to discuss forming a larger group of artists. Artists could get together twice a year and paint to pursue further development of their outdoor painting skills while exploring new Montana locations. At each paint-out they would share their insights, socialize, and use their organization to broaden the knowledge and appreciation of plein air painting in the public sphere. Thus, the MPA was formed.
Artist members of the MPA: Rob Akey, Marcia Ballowe, Diana Brady, Nate Closson, Todd Connor, Thomas English, Chuck Fulcher, Laurie Stevens, Mimi Grant, Jerry Inman, Patrick McClellan, Jennifer McClellan, Jake Gaedtke, Diana Mysse, Terry Nybo, Steve Oiestad, Greg Scheibel, Deb Schmit, Robert Spannring, David Swanson, Ron Ukrainetz Shirle Wempner, and Ken Yarus.
For additional information contact Rob Akey at 406-270-4177 or Tom English at 406-799-2881.
Where Khloe Kardashian Stands With Ex French Montana More Than 10 Years After Breakup
French Montana is done keeping up with reality TV.
In fact, he only agreed to appear on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Kourtney & Khloé Take the Hamptons over a decade ago as a favor to then-girlfriend Khloe Kardashian.
“She said to get on the show,” he exclusively told E! News at the BET Awards on June 28. “And I got on the show. Shout out to Khloe.”
The “Ever Since U Left Me” rapper, who split with Kardashian in December 2014 after eight months of dating, said the experience was “fun” because her family kept it real.
“They filmed their real life,” he continued. “And we were part of something together that one time. So it felt great. It didn’t feel like work because they film what they do everyday.”
As for his future in reality TV, the 41-year-old said those days are over, shutting down any prospective offers with a simple, “Negative.”
Although the “Unforgettable” artist—whose real name is Karim Kharbouch—may not be returning to television anytime soon, he has no problem hanging out with his ex-girlfriend these days.
French Montana, Rick Ross & Max B Turn the BET Awards Into “
06/28/2026
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GREAT FALLS — For Staff Sgt. Brianna St. Lawrence-Brody, service does not only happen in uniform.
Outside the gates of the base, she works at Benefis as a nurse, Great Falls Public Schools as a school nurse, and comes home as a wife and mom of four. For the Montana Air National Guard, she serves as a command post controller with the 120th Airlift Wing in Great Falls.
(WATCH: Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition)
Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition
This year, St. Lawrence-Brody was named the U.S. Air National Guard’s Outstanding Airman of the Year in the Non-Commissioned Officer category.
She said the recognition came as a surprise, especially because her path into the Guard started later than others.
“I joined very late in life,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I joined the Guard right before I turned 40. So for me, every opportunity that’s presented, I want to take the bull by the horns and just run with it and do the best of my ability.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined the Guard after finishing nursing school. She said she went straight from nursing school into helping open a COVID unit, while also working at Benefis.
She said that experience was the start of one journey, but not the whole of what she wanted to accomplish.
St. Lawrence-Brody joined the Guard for the opportunities, the challenge and to help build a future for her four children.
“It’s a little bit of a competition for myself,” she said. “Like, if I can do it, why not try my best to achieve it?”
120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
As a command post controller, she assists in helping move information during emergencies and major events.
“Outside, obviously, I’m a nurse. Inside the Guard, I have nothing to do with the medical field, which is kind of amazing,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “It keeps me on my toes.”
She explained balancing the Guard, two civilian jobs and four children takes support from her family, her employers and her unit. She said Benefis and GFPS have been supportive of her military service.
Her nomination included her deployment experience, training work overseas and involvement across the wing. St. Lawrence-Brody said she deployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where she worked with an operations center supporting entities connected to Africa.
But, she says this recognition is not the finish line.
“This award, it’s not necessarily a landing pad for me,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I want to use it as a springboard.”
120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
St. Lawrence-Brody hopes her story encourages others to keep taking on new opportunities, even when they feel uncertain.
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and be okay with doing things afraid,” she said. “I think when you get to be okay with doing things afraid, that’s where you’re going to find the growth.”
She has already won at the Air National Guard level, but she recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of the broader Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year process, which includes nominees from the Guard, Reserve and major commands across the Air Force.
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