July 27–30, 2026
Join Us as We Explore the Beauties of Art and Faith and Create in Community
Arts Week at the Yellowstone Center is a four-evening event featuring two tracks where you can immerse yourself in the arts this summer: Visual Arts and Music and Worship. (See Schedule)
Led by artists Mary Gammill (painting, multi-media, color & symbol) and Kurt Caddy (kintsugi, mosaics, abstract, color & symbol), the visual arts workshops will provide hands-on opportunities to work in various media, including kintsugi, paint, and mosaic. In the worship and music track, led by Dr. Tracie Jernigan, participants will discuss and create as they consider the vital place of music in the church.
Attendees can choose from whichever sessions they want to attend each evening according to their interest—there is no requirement to stick with one track throughout the week. Join us for all four nights—or even just one! (See Schedule *NOTE: Schedule is subject to change.)
LOCATION: Yellowstone Theological Institute, 83 Rowland Road, Bozeman
COST: $10 per evening (includes dinner)
DINNER: 5:30 | WORKSHOPS: 6:00 | LECTURE/DISCUSSION: 6:00
QUESTIONS? Please contact Mary Gammill at magammill@yellowstonetheology.org or (406) 404-1600.
Monday July 27
Workshops and Discussion (Starting at 6:00pm)
Visual Arts Track
Floral Painting
Led by Mary Gammill
Paint the colorful beauties of a Montana summer—flowers. We will have locally grown flowers as well as photos of wildflowers for inspiration.
Abstract Painting
Led by Kurt Caddy
Abstract art offers many possibilities for expression. Kurt will teach about substrates, texture, form, color palate, and expression.
Worship & Music Track
The Aesthetics of Music—Defining “Good” Music and Curating “Good” Music for the Church
Led by Tracie Jernigan
The Worship & Music track of Summer Arts Week provides opportunities for worship planners, worship leaders, ministers, and supporters of worship arts ministries to explore beauty in the music of the church. Each evening builds on the previous, yet stands alone and provides experiential lecture, group discussion, theological reflection, practical consideration, and creation of liturgy and musical examples.
Tuesday July 28
Workshops and Discussion (Starting at 6:00pm)
Visual Arts Track
Kintsugi
Led by Kurt Caddy
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken vessels, dating from the 14th-century. This beautiful and engaging creative art form becomes a visual representation of God’s redemptive story—from brokenness to beauty through the new creation. Our instructor will be visual artist Kurt Caddy, a trained Kintsugi workshop leader.
Multimedia Landscapes
Led by Mary Gammill
Inspired by the mountains, landscapes, and skies around us, we will create using a variety of media including paint, oil sticks, and images.
Worship & Music Track
Building the Foundation: Developing a Theology of Worship That Leads to Worship Experiences of Divine Beauty
Led by Tracie Jernigan
The Worship & Music track of Summer Arts Week provides opportunities for worship planners, worship leaders, ministers, and supporters of worship arts ministries to explore beauty in the music of the church. Each evening builds on the previous, yet stands alone and provides experiential lecture, group discussion, theological reflection, practical consideration, and creation of liturgy and musical examples.
Wednesday July 29
Workshops and Discussion (Starting at 6:00pm)
Visual Arts Track
Celtic Art
Led by Mary Gammill
Explore 8th century illuminated manuscripts like The Book of Kells and The Lindisfarne Gospels and create in response to these historical works.
Mosaic
Led by Kurt Caddy
Mosaic has always been a vital part of the sacred art tradition. This workshop will explore the history of mosaic as sacred art and explore basic designs and techniques needed to create your own mosaic in the sacred tradition.
Worship & Music Track
Practicing Beauty in Community: Music & Art Experiences You Can Do with Your Faith Community
Led by Tracie Jernigan
The Worship & Music track of Summer Arts Week provides opportunities for worship planners, worship leaders, ministers, and supporters of worship arts ministries to explore beauty in the music of the church. Each evening builds on the previous, yet stands alone and provides experiential lecture, group discussion, theological reflection, practical consideration, and creation of liturgy and musical examples.
Thursday July 30
Workshops and Discussion (Starting at 6:00pm)
Visual Arts Track
Color and Symbol
Led by Kurt Caddy and Mary Gammill
Explore the history of the meaning of color and symbol in creating works of faith.
Worship & Music Track
The Pursuit of Beautiful Worship Experiences: Making it Happen Every Sunday
Led by Tracie Jernigan
The Worship & Music track of Summer Arts Week provides opportunities for worship planners, worship leaders, ministers, and supporters of worship arts ministries to explore beauty in the music of the church. Each evening builds on the previous, yet stands alone and provides experiential lecture, group discussion, theological reflection, practical consideration, and creation of liturgy and musical examples.
About Our Workshop Leaders
Mary Gammill is an abstract, explorative artist who expresses her relationship with God in art. Focusing on light and color with acrylic ink as her primary medium, Mary is inspired by the symbolism, light, and the theology represented in Christian Art History, as well as the beauty of God’s creation in which she lives. She is currently working to form an artist collective in the Bozeman area.
Mary and her husband Mike live in Bozeman, and they have two beloved adult daughters and a golden retriever named Sunny.
As a visual artist, Kurt Caddy believes that art is generative and transformative, and that one of the roles of an artist is to help (or force) the viewer to “see the unseen.”
Kurt says, “As an artist, a ‘little c’ creator and a follower of Jesus, I simply must believe that beauty can and will spring from brokenness. We live in a broken world. I see it on the news. I see it in our cities. I see it in my home. I see it in my mirror. But this brokenness is not forever! This brokenness does not get the final word. Isaiah tells of a day when God will ‘give us beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a fainting heart.’ My purpose as an artist is to take time to see the ordinary and to transform it into something extraordinary. In a real sense, each work is a hope-filled prayer for beauty and transformation.”
Kurt lives on a small farm in southwest Missouri. He is married to Laura, and they have eight biological and adopted children.
Dr. Tracie Jernigan joins YTI on a seasonal basis to lecture in Worship Arts. She is an ordained minister, a worship arts pastor, and an avid musician. Tracie has a deep interest in curating worship for the contemporary church, training capable worship leaders, exploring the connection between worship and social justice, and creating uniquely Christian community in a variety of contexts. She earned her DMin from McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University.
The mother of two young boys, Tracie resides with her family in North Carolina.
Sign Up for Arts Week 2026!
QUESTIONS? Please contact us at (406) 404-1600 or information@yellowstonetheology.org.
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