“The Art of Survival: Native American Tools & Techniques”
Sunday, January 21 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter The Art of Survival film screening with Q&A promises a captivating exploration of Native American heritage before the arrival of colonists. Join us for the premiere of “The Art of Survival: Native American Tools and Techniques”, a live documentary directed and composed by Buck Hitswithastick, a Bitterroot Salish cultural specialist, Native arts instructor, and motivational speaker. This unique cinematic experience unfolds the resourceful ways Native Americans crafted tools, cooked using natural techniques, and thrived in their environment. Delve into the rich history, customs, and enduring legacy of American Indians in this educational and enlightening journey. Buck is a lifelong student of Northwestern Native American peoples, with a focus on the Bitterroot Salish of western Montana. Starting his journey with solo camping and survival under the Big Sky, Buck sought mentors to deepen his understanding of traditional arts and tribal history. He attended Salish Kootenai College (SKC) and various conferences, becoming a certified basket weaver by the Montana Arts Council. With over 30 years of cultural immersion, language, and wilderness experience, Buck shares his knowledge through motivational speaking, presentations on wellness and history, and teaching traditional arts. His expertise extends to pre-colonial contact tool making, Native regalia, dance, “up-cycling,” and warriorship, all demonstrated interactively in sessions that complement the themes of the film. FILM SYNOPSIS”The Art of Survival: Native American Tools and Techniques” invites you to witness the ingenious ways Native Americans crafted tools and lived off the land before the arrival of settlers. Directed by Buck Hitswithastick and produced by Hitswithastick Productions in collaboration with the Montana Arts Council, this two-hour documentary showcases hands-on demonstrations and expert commentary. From stone, bone, and wood tools to cooking techniques without pots, the film takes you on a seasonal journey, offering a profound understanding of Native American culture. Join us on this educational adventure and gain a deeper appreciation for the amazing ingenuity of American Indians.For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
City Without Words: An Encore Screening of A Place (Sort Of)
Friday, July 1 // Doors at 7 PM // 7:30 PM // Q&A and Cocktail Hour Following Screening // $15 ZACC is proud to partner with filmmaker Andy Smetanka for an encore public screening of his feature-length Missoula documentary, A Place (Sort Of): A Movie Mosaic of Missoula, Montana. Seven years in the making, Smetanka’s documentary skillfully weaves a century of home movies, vintage promotional films and minor Hollywood features into a spellbinding journey through time, place and memory. ZACC’s April 15 presentation is a special version of the film, with the same vintage imagery and 100% Missoula musical soundtrack, only minus the final narration. It’s a rare opportunity to experience the ultra-local version he really set out to make, Smetanka tells us: “This is the one I dreamed about making,” he says. “For the rest of the world, Missoula might take some explaining. For Missoulians, not so much.” Filmmaker Q&A to follow.For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
City Without Words: A Very Special Screening of A Place (Sort Of)
Friday, April 15 // Doors at 7 PM // 7:30 PM // Q&A and Cocktail Hour Following Screening // $15 ZACC is proud to partner with filmmaker Andy Smetanka for the first public screening of his feature-length Missoula documentary, A Place (Sort Of): A Movie Mosaic of Missoula, Montana. Seven years in the making, Smetanka’s documentary skillfully weaves a century of home movies, vintage promotional films and minor Hollywood features into a spellbinding journey through time, place and memory. ZACC’s April 15 presentation is a special version of the film, with the same vintage imagery and 100% Missoula musical soundtrack, only minus the final narration. It’s a rare opportunity to experience the ultra-local version he really set out to make, Smetanka tells us: “This is the one I dreamed about making,” he says. “For the rest of the world, Missoula might take some explaining. For Missoulians, not so much.” Filmmaker Q&A to follow.For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.