HOCKADAY ANNOUNCES EXHIBIT NICHOLAS OBERLING: HIDDEN TREASURES FEATURING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK BACKCOUNTRY VISTAS

The Hockaday Museum of Art proudly presents its second major exhibit of Summer 2014 with Nicholas Oberling: Hidden Treasures July 31 - September 20. Kalispell painter Oberling spent two years in Glacier National Park painting breathtaking vistas of the backcountry accessible only by horseback or foot.

The Hockaday Museum of Art announces Hidden Treaures, an exhibition of paintings by Kalispell painter Nicholas Oberling that features the extraordinary beauty of Glacier National Park's backcountry that is only accessible by horseback or foot. The exhibition finishes the Museum's summer season and will be on display July 31 through September 20, 2014.

Oberling spent two years painting in Glacier National Park's backcountry and in his studio to create all of the works in this unique exhibit. In an effort to encourage people to visit the less-traveled areas of the Park, Oberling divides his works into five areas: Belly River, Kintla Lake, Granite Park Chalet to Swiftcurrent, Gunsight Lake and Two Medicine to St. Mary. Oberling used no photographs and painted all of the works in this exhibit from life experiences.

"Venturing into the backcountry offers the significant rewards of the incredible vistas available there," Oberling said. "Over a two-year period, I covered many miles and amassed numerable plein air studies. Back in the studio, I created a series large paintings dedicated to the artistic process."

The opening reception for Hidden Treasures will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2014, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, and the public is invited to enjoy free admission to the event. Oberling will be speaking as part of the "Conversations with the Artists" series of talks at 4:30 PM that day; admission to the talk is free for Hockaday members and $10 for non-members. Throughout the exhibit, visitors may learn more about the exhibition by taking one of the docent-guided tours held Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM (included with guest admission). The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Hidden Treasures was made possible by the support of Glacier Park, Inc.

The Hockaday Museum of Art is located in the cultural district of downtown Kalispell at 302 Second Ave East. It is housed in a 1904 Carnegie Library building that appears on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, open year-round, Tues-Sat from 10am-5pm. A wheelchair accessibl