Groundwork. One Year. Two Artists. The land that inspires them.
The spark: Anna Patterson’s stunning painting of Peets Hill – Bozeman, Montana.
When GVLT Director of Development Justin Barth first saw Anna Patterson’s painting of Peets Hill on the walls of Little Star Diner, he was inspired.
The piece beautifully captures a landscape central to GVLT’s history and mission (in fact, it was our first trails project!)—and to so many of our hearts. It was a gorgeous reminder that our local trails and open spaces inspire us in countless ways, including creatively. From that single spark, a unique collaborative project was born.
Where Conservation Meets Creativity
Groundwork is a year-long collaborative initiative joining GVLT, painter Anna Patterson (A.T. Patterson Design), and Lisa Rickenbaugh (founder and creative director at Bellwether Handwoven).
Together, we’ll follow Anna and Lisa as they translate the beauty of GVLT’s protected landscapes into tactile works of art. Over the coming year, we’ll document their creative process through a series of stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses into how Montana’s trails and open working lands inspire their creations.
This journey will culminate in summer 2027 with a signature farm-to-table dinner at Little Star Diner, where these original works will be sold to support the continued protection of Southwest Montana’s highly productive, wildlife-rich, and scenic viewsheds that inspired them.
Exploring Our Focus Areas
To kick off the project, Anna and Lisa visited conserved properties in each of GVLT’s five specific land conservation focus areas within our three-county service area (Gallatin, Park, and Madison counties):
Amsterdam/Churchill
Bozeman Pass
Gallatin and East Gallatin River Corridors
Gooch Hill
Park County
GVLT’s Stewardship Team reached out to five landowner partners to explain the project and ask if they’d be willing to participate. They all generously agreed, and Anna and Lisa hit the road.
Throughout the late summer and early fall, Anna and Lisa toured these properties to photograph the landscape and, when possible, learn about the families who steward the land. Over the coming months, we’ll share stories and photos of this journey, along with artistic updates.
Stay tuned for a Q&A with the artists in next month’s e-newsletter!
Get the Spark: Limited-Edition Merch
Have you also fallen in love with Anna’s Peets Hill painting? Anna has generously allowed GVLT to license this work for special-edition tote bags.
For just $30, you can carry this beautiful scene on your daily adventures. To get yours, stop by GVLT’s office at 212 S. Wallace Ave., Suite 101, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Coming soon: GVLT notecards featuring the same painting.