Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 2 98 THE INVIGORATING SCENT OF DAMPENED PINES triggered by a brief-but-furious summer storm swept down off of Mount Helena and swirled through the Queen City's historic district as I took a late afternoon stroll through Last Chance Gulch last year. Lively children carrying cones filled with melting scoops of ice cream squealed as they raced one another down the walking mall, flying past outdoor eateries filled with people sharing drinks and meals and laughs. I stopped briefly to investigate a set of oversized, Alice-in-Wonder- land-style chess pieces situated on the sidewalk outside a storefront before becoming distracted once again by the architectural details and bold colors of the historic buildings lining the narrow streets that were once nothing more than a wind- ing path between mining claims. The mouthwatering scent of smoked brisket wafted by on a breeze, then was quickly replaced with the rich smells of pastries and pasta and fresh coffee. It was one of those rare, covetable afternoons without a need for intent—without a hec- tic urgency to be heading anywhere in particular at all. And that is how I unwittingly wound up wandering into the studio of renowned sculptor Lyle Schwabauer. THE MAKING OF AN ARTIST Lyle is one of many exquisite Montana artists whose pieces are featured at the Moun- tain Sage Gallery on Last Chance Gulch. The shop carries a variety of original paintings, as well as jewelry, photography, fused and molded glass, drawings, pottery, stained glass, rock mosaics, and—of course—bronze sculptures. When I first met Lyle, he was hard at work in his studio at the back of the gallery. I ini- tially thought my misstep into his creative space made me a frustrating distraction and I attempted to duck back out, but Lyle immediately welcomed me. "You can come on in!" he said in a booming but jovial tone. "I don't bite!" Lyle, who hails from the far-eastern Montana plains area of Sidney, originally seemed destined for a life as a woodworker. AS MANY AS 70 PERCENT OF THE MEN IN CERTAIN TRIBAL NATIONS ENLISTED IN THE ARMED FORCES DURING THOSE TRYING YEARS. TODAY, NATIVE AMERICANS CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY AT A HIGHER RATE THAN ANY OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR NATION, ACCORDING TO THE USO.

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