Often the genesis of an organization resides with one or two individuals. In the case of Artists Along the Bitterroot it belongs with two groups of artists. In early 2008 friends and colleagues, Bobbie McKibbin and Barbara Michelman, began a conversation about selling work directly to the public from their studio. Both artists were interested in interacting with the public. In addition to selling their work they wanted to enhance the public’s ability to engage with the visual art world, to overcome any feeling of intimidation about visiting studios, galleries or museums. Inviting the public into their studios was a way to accomplish that goal. The resulting concept of a “Holiday Show” was advertised in public venues and through direct invitations to each artist’s personal contacts and they opened their studios for all to visit over a two-day period.

Shortly after this event Michelman and McKibbin were approached by a number of artists who simultaneously had been thinking along the same lines – selling work directly from their studios and interacting with the public in those studios.

This group included Cynthie Fisher, Art Norby, Ed Wolf, and Kathleen Sheard. These six artists held a number of meetings to discuss their ideas and goals and then founded the non-profit Artists Along the Bitterroot.

One of the founding goals of this organization is to provide opportunities for the public to learn about artistic endeavors. In visiting an artist’s studio you have an opportunity to see first-hand some of the factors an artist considers in the creation of their artistic visions. The studio visits also inform the viewer about the unique nature of studio spaces and how they facilitate and accommodate the making of a variety of artistic pieces. Certainly, the studio that creates iron art is different than the studio that creates art in fabric, glass, paint, pastel, clay, leather, photographic or other mediums.

In 2009, 2010, and 2011 the organization focused on establishing what is now the Studio Tour and Sale in the early part of June each year and in expanding the number of participating artists. Membership by application and jury now includes 32 artists and represents a very wide variety of mediums. A member may invite the participation of a juried Guest Artist, an expanded offering introduced during the 2014 tour. Each year approximately 30 members participate in the tour and studio locations are open on the north end of the valley in Lolo to the south end of the valley in Darby. In 2014 AAB received 501c3 nonprofit status.

As the organization grew the promotional efforts for the tour also grew. The website opened in 2013 and is available year-round for public contact to any artist-member. The tour was initially advertised through word-of-mouth, a tri-fold and a few advertising venues. It expanded to a larger brochure, more advertising, a growing mailing list and wider geographic distribution by members. In 2014 the brochure became a 16-page catalog.