On March 20, 2025 at the annual Museums Association of Montana (MAM) Conference in Bozeman, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art (The Square) was awarded the 2024 Professional Accomplishment in New Exhibit Presentation for WITHIN: Louis Still Smoking and John Isaiah Pepion.
The Exhibition award is dedicated by the MAM to the memory of Kevin Kooistra, Executive Director of the Western Heritage Center (1961-2024). Kevin was a bright light with a great passion for storytelling, he was often found researching, giving public presentations, walking tours and planning exhibitions. His time at the Western Heritage Center, as well as his constant involvement in various Montana organizations (the Extreme History Project of Bozeman, the Southeastern Tourism Board, the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board, and the Museums Association of Montana), made him a recognizable and beloved figure in the community.
“We are grateful to all who nominated the museum for WITHIN: Louis Still Smoking and John Isaiah Pepion under the category of Kevin Kooistra Award for Best New Exhibition; and to The Museums Association of Montana for making it a point to honor museum exhibition work by recognizing outstanding new exhibits that debuted in 2024. We also congratulate Blaine County Museum for receiving first place honors in this category for their exhibit Fort Belknap’s Patriot Chief: The Extraordinary Service of Gilbert Horn, Sr.” said Nicole Maria Evans, Interim Executive Director/Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs.
The Square dedicates this accomplishment first and foremost to artists Louis Still Smoking and John Isaiah Pepion who commit themselves to artmaking to teach the public about Blackfeet life ways and culture. WITHIN: Louis Still Smoking & John Isaiah Pepion was an onsite artist-led two-week residency and installation-based exhibition. WITHIN featured large-scale murals, sculptures, paintings, a buffalo robe, and ledger art by two celebrated Native American artists representing the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana. The exhibition was featured by and originated at The Square from October 20, 2023 through March 17, 2024.
In an artist statement for the exhibition, Still Smoking and Pepion stated, “We, Louis Still Smoking and John Isaiah Pepion, are Indigenous artists that have a history of working together on murals and exhibits that display our artistic talents and educate people about our art using personal content, styles, and mediums. We used the entire exhibition space at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art to incorporate a mixed installation of mural works that visually create a unique experience for the viewer…This project gives authenticity to our contemporary artwork and gives a voice to us as Native artists and Native scholars of this region today.”
The museum recognizes the importance of the supportive efforts needed to bring this exhibition to fruition. The artists’ creative genius and collaborative work with Nicole Maria Evans as well as the entire museum team, made the exhibition installation and presentation a success. The Square also acknowledges the important critically written works put forward by our guest lecturers and catalogue authors Sean Falcon Chandler EdD. and Jennifer Néso’eóó’e Woodcock-Medicine Horse, PhD. The photo essay created by photographer Jacob Cowgill and the catalogue designed by Eric Heidle serve as a permanent published record of the exhibition.
“We thank the museum Board of Directors, museum sponsors, and the community of Great Falls and the state of Montana for supporting the important, critically thoughtful, contemporary, and art historical exhibitions at The Square,” said Evans.
