Of All The Places

3.7 Buck & Bridget Miller

Buck and Bridget Miller are the creative power-couple behind High Life Tattoo. After meeting each other through the Missoula tattoo community, their mutual love of Butte’s grit and weirdness had them traveling I-90 anytime they had the chance. As soon as they could, they made the move and went full-Butte, raising the city’s cool-factor exponentially.  Throughout our conversation, their selflessness shines through. They talk about having an art ‘style’ but flexing diverse creative muscles that lead to being more well-rounded artists and ultimately providing better service to clients. Bridget, a recent addition to the board of directors, shares an unequalled love for Our Lady of the Rockies and talks about the statue as a cherished example of the uniqueness in the Butte community. Their business dreams came true recently, purchasing and renovating an uptown building, the permanent home for High Life Tattoo and Buck’s majestically manicured mustache. Whether it’s making pasties or tattooing clients, the couple shares how they lean on creativity and their community to push back at the challenges and inequities we’re experiencing in our country. Of all the places, Buck and Bridget are happy to call Butte, Montana home. For more of their work, visit tattoosbybridget.com [http://tattoosbybridget.com/] and @high.life.tattoo on Instagram.

3.6 BT Livermore

BT Livermore has been an Artist, Maker of Things, and Provider of Services ever since much since they were a small child in Minnesota. In addition to a web design degree, they completed a BFA degree in Illustration while working in Portland, OR. It was an artist residency at the Imagine Butte Resource Center that brought BT to the Mining City and they became enveloped by the history, grit, and wealth of ghost signs of Butte. When your list of talents exceeds the room on a business card, your title simply becomes ‘maker of things. BT's professional skillset these days include traditional sign painting and gold leaf work, handmade lettering, illustration, logo design, murals, woodworking, furniture restoration, screen printing, and letterpress printing. While excelling at each, none surpass BT’s passion to provide and support their community however they can. Like a good ol’ midwestern hot dish, their teaching and studio spaces bring people together. It’s the creations of BT Livermore that will continue to reach people far beyond the classrooms, studio spaces, and years. We all could be as fortunate. Of all the places, BT Livermore calls Butte, Montana home. For more information on BT’s projects, shows, and information on commissions, visit btlivermore.com [http://btlivermore.com/] and Instagram at @bigtimelivermore

3.5 Dr. Chad Okrusch

Chad Okrusch is a professor, author, photographer, philosopher, and singer-songwriter with deep roots in Butte, Montana. After attending graduate school in Eugene, Oregon, circumstances brought him back to his hometown to accept a pair of jobs in a city that, at that time, had no jobs to offer. The Butte “vortex” has kept hold of him since, and continues to inform and inspire his myriad creative projects and academic career. Chad reflects on spending decades within a creative community that is blossoming, one that is creating inspiration and truly authentic stories. His latest project, written for his daughters and titled ‘Mostly Love’ explores themes of resilience, connection, heartbreak, and all that keeps us making songs when life gets messy. A thoughtful love letter to a place, people, and community that Chad holds dear. In the classrooms of Montana Technological University, Chad teaches philosophy and communication, where he works with students on questions of ethics, meaning, and how we live together in community. He shares his thoughts on AI and helping young people find clarity and humility in a world that’s moving faster than any of us can track. One thread running through all of Chads works, is exploring how people build lives of integrity and creativity in the places they love, and how they contribute to the place's capacity to grow in healthy ways. And maybe the appropriateness of the Comic Sans font… and aliens. Of all the places, Chad Okrusch calls Butte, Montana home.   For more information on Chad’s projects, visit www.chadokrusch.com [http://www.chadokrusch.com/]

3.4 Scott Tallman Powers

Scott Tallman Powers is an internationally-recognized naturalist painter. His talents have taken him all over the globe, creating art that depicts different world cultures. Originally from Alabama, he attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago. While working toward his dream of becoming a full-time artist, he founded a weekly outdoor painting group known as "The Plein Air Painters of Chicago." Scott’s passion brought him to Butte in search of… well, love… and the inspiration he feels in Butte’s uniquely urban setting and SW Montana’s dramatic landscapes. Scott bought an uptown building that will soon become his studio and classroom with the aim of being a community art hub to share his knowledge and hopefully bring the Plein air Painters out west. Over a perfectly mixed negroni, Scott shares stories of painting on the streets of Italy, working in a tent in Alaska, and teaching art classes in China. Through our conversation, one thing becomes clear: the intersection of community, passion, talent, and adventure is where Scott finds his calling. Of all the places, Scott calls Butte, Montana home. You can find Scott’s work at www.scottpowersfineart.com [http://www.scottpowersfineart.com/] and at galleries  www.illumegallerywest.com [http://www.illumegallerywest.com/] in Philipsburg, Mt and www.settlerswest.com [http://www.settlerswest.com/] in Tucson, AZ

3.3 Zooey Zephyr

Zooey Zephyr is on a wild ride through the halls of the Montana State Capitol building. She represents Missoula in the Montana House of Representatives. Zooey didn’t necessarily seek out the political arena; it was frustration at seeing anti-LGBTQ and transgender bills being passed that spurred her to run. She was sworn into the Montana House in November 2022, becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected to the Montana Legislature. We immediately found out that government work is no joke. Zooey tries to help us understand the inner workings of the job: how she balances different needs and allegiances and navigating the tidal wave of 1,800 bills during the 90-day session. All this while keeping her principles and promises grounded. The job can be a seemingly impossible task while simultaneously being completely worth the effort. Zooey is most widely known for speaking out during the 2023 legislative session in opposition of multiple anti-trans and LGBTQ bills. She shares the moments leading up to and through the experience of being silenced, and eventually censured, from the House floor, resulting in protests, violence, and arrests. Throughout the chaos, Zooey stood at her desk, calmly and symbolically holding her microphone over her head, asking to speak truth on behalf of the transgender and LGBTQ community she cares deeply about. Even while revisiting these challenges, participating in the democratic process energizes Zooey in passionate and thoughtful ways. She gets the same twinkle in her eyes while talking about visiting Glacier National Park with her family and friends. As well as painting… and gaming. Proof there’s still a lot of gas left in her tank. Oh, and belting out Broadway showtunes... we can’t wait to join her for that. Of all the places, Zooey Zephyr calls Missoula, Montana home.  For more information, check out Zooey’s Wikipedia page (And, yes, we’re all jealous she has one): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooey_Zephyr [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooey_Zephyr]  and keep up with her work on Instagram at @zoandbehold [https://www.instagram.com/zoandbehold/]