Local Artist’s Piece Displayed In Natural History Museum

For one local woman the inspiration to take a still photograph is derived from everywhere and at times, seemingly from nowhere. It can be conjured up from the way the light hits an old abandoned barn or from the way frost gathers on a stumpy head of echinacea. It could be mustered from the way a greasy country mouse looks while running across a dusty floor or from the more obvious and awe inspiring fog rolling over the Missouri River. Capturing these images is a talent and passion Kitty Kolden, an aspiring artist from Wolf Point, indulges in daily.

Lately, that passion and talent is taking her places she never imagined.

Several weeks ago, Kolden was notified she was selected as one of the artists hand picked out of 200 photographers and nearly 1,000 images to have her photograph entitled, “Poetry in Motion”, displayed in the San Diego Natural History Museum from early January through May. This designation comes after some coaxing from her friends and family to submit some of her work into the prestigious “Best of Nature” contest. She submitted a total of nine photographs and her piece depicting a snowy battle between two pheasants was selected. The unique photograph was captured in Kolden’s backyard and was taken as a series of some 500 photographs of the pheasants fighting and eventually battling out of sight.

Currently, the Pheasants Forever Journal is looking over some of her work and may be selecting one of her photographs for use as their front cover in an upcoming edition if the image quality meets their standards. When Kolden took the photograph selected to hang in the Natural History Museum, she used a Nikon D-50 but has since upgraded to a Nikon D-90.

“Having a piece selected is a huge honor that took me by surprise. I think it is so rewarding to be able to share this part of me with people because I truly love capturing the world as I see it through my lens,” said Kolden.

While Kolden has been avidly taking photographs for several years, it wasn’t until last September that she placed her art in a show in Billings with Sunrise Studio Art Gallery. At the urging of her friend Lance Johnson, gallery co-owner, she contracted to do the show with them through October. “Lance offered me the insight and courage to think big about what I want to accomplish with my photography,” Kolden said.

To get the technical aspects set up in her home, she relied on her husband, Jim, who she proclaims to be the stronger half when it comes to tackling technology. “It isn’t his dream to be a professional artist but he knows it’s mine and he has always supported me in every way he can,” she said.

Kolden takes her inspiration from everywhere she travels and originally that was how she began taking pictures and showing them to people. Through her “Kolden Report” she keeps a travel log about places she and her husband visited and sends them off to friends and relatives through an email.

Today, the Kolden Report is read by over 300 recipients in five countries including the U.S., Spain, China, Norway and Denmark. As the report has developed she has included less text and more photographs to help keep her life private but her photography out in the public eye.

“I can envision a picture in just about anything. I’ve gotten to work before and taken a picture of a gorgeous sunrise or a bat hanging from the wall of a building. They are documentations of my travels. The one comment I hear repeatedly from people is that we may be looking at the exact same thing but I see it and capture it very differently. Photography for me has always been, the more I look, the more I see with respect to my subject matter,” Kolden stated.

Currently, Kolden is employed at Northeast Montana Health Services.

Kolden gets great joy from her photography, but like many artists, she admits she isn’t always in the mood to take pictures. So, if the inspiration isn’t there, she doesn’t attempt to force it. Typically, she takes pictures every day. Many of them she captures in her own backyard. Living out in the country has given her a perfect landscape for creating her pieces. She says Northeast Montana is one of the most uniquely beautiful places she has ever seen and the rugged landscape makes it very easy for her to find subject matter outside to capture.

She only photographs people when the opportunity presents itself and typically only photographs landscapes and wildlife. “I enjoy the spontaneity of a picture. For me it is much harder working with artificial lighting and the fact that you have to make the shot happen when people are the subject. You have to work much harder with that kind of lighting but with nature and natural light everything just seems to fall into place,” Kolden said.

She recently published a book on the flooding that took place last spring in Northeast Montana near the Missouri and Milk rivers. Her book titled, “2011, The Year of Water in Northeast Montana” captures the flood through her photography and offers text describing the images.

She is in the process of getting a website developed from her portfolio and hopes to continue pursuing local shows and bazaars. She just finished a show with ArtSpot, Glasgow, and participated in the Wolf Point Optimists’ Bazaar.

Professing to be someone who loves variety she enjoys many hobbies including, cooking, reading, knitting, crocheting, traveling, going to auctions and combing the early morning streets for a good yard sale. She also enjoys visiting schools in hopes of motivating youth to pick up a camera and capture the world through their eyes.

“My house looks like a frame shop exploded. There is crafting stuff, cases of glass, stacks of frames, piles of mats and all sorts of stuff out that I am working on. My husband has always been very supportive of everything I do and as long as he has a place where he can set his coffee cup, he is happy,” she said.

Kolden will be traveling to California for the opening reception taking place at the Ordover Gallery in the Natural History Museum and hopes to make some professional connections that will help her reach her goal of becoming a recognized and professional photographer. “The way I see it is that you can always dream, so why not dream big,” Kolden questioned?

For more information on Kolden’s artwork or to purchase her book on the flooding, contact [email protected] or call 406-525-3357.