Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Cottage Industries - Montana Style: Bill Hildebrandt's Intarsia on His Own Terms

Bill Hildebrandt creates mosaic-like pictures from pieces of wood - a cardinal, hummingbird, elk, koala bears - using a process known as intarsia, but with Bill's individual twists. He uses imagination and artistry, but describes himself as more of a technologist, using skills from his past, and his passion for math, science, and god in his creations. Though most of his pieces have been given as gifts, Bill is rethinking his cottage industry business plan with a specific goal.

Bill came to Whitehall 10 years ago from Colorado, his wife Donna joined him soon after and they'll be celebrating nine years of marriage in October. As a young college student, Bill described himself as a long-haired hippie and believer in Maslow's pyramid of hierarchy. Maturity changed his beliefs in that mantra but he came to Montana's culture as a liberal and is proud of the fact he's different.

Professional jobs varied, but each one plays a part in the art he creates. His first job was x-ray technician.

"I loved it, I learned that you are an artist when you make those pictures, you have to be a technical expert as well. I've also been an instructor and I loved that," he said. "I was an application specialist showing medical personnel how to use a computer to get medical images and information so that they could work with their patients. I got to use my imagination to help people learn how to use the technology to get what they needed."

In intarsia, woodworkers follow a pattern of selecting different types of wood, cutting them precisely to size with a scroll saw, in a sense creating multiples of the same pattern. When Bill began in 1994 he worked with his former wife; she followed each line of the pattern with no variance. Now on his own as a woodworker, Bill doesn't work that way, describing his art as "painting with wood."

He starts with a photo and follows a pattern but also looks at the pieces of wood, how they will fit, and the grain. The pattern is a guide but Bill shapes the pieces, in maple, black cherry, pine, cedar, and others, using carving tools. He always works with recycled wood, not liking to throw anything away, and uses stains for color, shaping each color with other substances to add depth or texture.

Invariably, the finished result ends up being nothing like the photo he started with, even those from a pre-made pattern. At first, his training as a chemist to be exact caused frustration, but now he's happy with his method and the results.

Bill looks at a piece of wood and thinks how it can be used, then makes that happen; it gives him an image. Something might resemble looking over the plains with grass growing or a background of water; another detail on a piece of wood might make a good eye for a deer.

He sees the connection between his pieces and his former work as an x-ray technician. "Every piece is different, like my x-ray technology, every person who walked through the door to be x-rayed was different," he said. "I had to use all my skills to get the right image to be able to figure out what was wrong."

Subjects for Bill's pictures can be his own ideas or requests. One, a whale jumping out of the water, came from a woman who asked him to copy a picture she liked; it turned out to be one of Bill's favorites\ and one he's quite proud of. Living in Montana has also influenced his choice of subjects. He created an elk with a moon in response to his evening drives from Helena when he worked as a substitute teacher, and Montana birdlife are often depicted, all in response to his happy years living in Whitehall.

"It's been a wonderful sojourn, heartwarming, educational, all of that stuff wrapped up together," he said.

Though Bill has given away most of his work and enjoyed doing so, he's reached a point where he'd like to veer in a different direction.

"I watch the TV show 'The Chosen', about how Christ chose his disciples, and it's so inspiring to me, the thinking behind putting them together. There are no big name sponsors; they rely on contributions from people," Bill said. "So I'd like to sell my pieces, take what I need to cover my materials/expenses and the rest goes as a donation toward 'The Chosen' or some other entity/organization."

The community can see Bill's work at the Whitehall Farmer's Market where he runs a table that displays his big elk piece, along with Travis and Audrey's pastries, Steve Wallace's t-shirts, and six-year-old Sarah Wagner, selling her baby clothes. Settings also carries his work.

Inviting someone into his workshop to see his work is often the beginning of a deep connection, one where his skills and passions can be shared and appreciated.

"I love integrating all of that, it warms my heart to be able to share. There's nothing like the feeling when someone takes one of my pieces," Bill said. "I would love to teach this feeling I get and I've discovered more people who feel this way and act out of kindness.

I think people like that are everywhere but I wasn't seeing them until I got here."

For his last word, Bill would like the community to know that he loves to teach and would happily serve as a tutor to any child to facilitate their learning.

For more information: Bill can be reached at 303-929-4892.

 

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