Nature’s Bones

Casey Burton was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side. She earned her BFA in ceramics from the University of Iowa in 2019 and continued her studies with post-baccalaureate work at the University of Kansas. She later completed an artist residency at the Cobb Mountain Art & Ecology Project in Northern California, experiences that further deepened her connection to body and land.

In 2024, Casey received her MFA from Penn State University. She was an adjunct professor at Saint Xavier University in Chicago and is currently an artist-in-residence at The Clay Studio of Missoula.

Erynn McNeill is an artist, botanist, and scientific illustrator. While obtaining their Bachelor of Science in Biology they worked throughout the backcountry of Montana, Idaho and Alaska tracking animals and recording plant species until the fall of 2020 when forced isolation brought back an old love of creating art. They created Up Moss Creek Studio as a habitat for experimentation where they combine their knowledge of ecology from these wilderness experiences with inspirations from sci-fi, Celtic folklore, medieval bestiaries and botanical illustration to create unique dark naturalism acrylic paintings and jewelry. While their many inspirations give their work an air of fantasy, they purposefully highlight little known and endangered species from across the Pacific Northwest with the hope to educate and inspire conservation. They are currently based in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana where they share a home with their partner Brandon, dog Dagwood, and cat Orion.

With a lens focused on the world’s natural wonders, Kassidy Malcolm intertwines her passions for photography and the outdoors. Based in Missoula, Montana, her journey began in Washington state, where towering mountains and vibrant sunsets first sparked her creative spirit. Kassidy’s connection to nature fuels her work, as she believes people are deeply connected to the earth’s rivers, forests, and wild landscapes. This inspires her to capture fleeting moments that will never occur again.

In recent years, her love for exploration has expanded beyond North America to the historic and diverse landscapes of Europe, where she once lived while playing basketball. It was there that she fell in love with travel photography and developed a desire to see more of the world. As her favorite artist, Tom Petty, said, “After all, it was a great big world with lots of places to run to.” Kassidy is committed to documenting the world’s beauty, one destination at a time.

After a 30-year career in dance and the exploration of consciousness, I found my way back to the visual arts in 2020.

In my early twenties, I had the privilege of studying fine art and art history in Montreal, Canada, and Florence, Italy exposing me to both the intuitive aspects of art and the discipline of classical realism. The rich use of color, form, and allegory that captivated me in Renaissance painting in Italy continues to inspire my work today, now woven together with a contemplative, body-centered approach.

My years working in the healing arts, expressive arts, and eco-therapy have added depth and texture to my creative practice. Through painting, I explore the relationship between the natural world, inner experience, and the quiet presence that emerges when we slow down enough to truly see, feel and listen.

Maddie Tucker was born and raised in Missoula. She has always found peace in movement, and tries to infuse her artwork with the electricity that she feels when she's in motion, or when she's observing the movements of the world around her.