New wellness-themed mural unveiled on Willson Avenue in Bozeman

BOZEMAN, Mont. – A new mural on Willson Avenue in downtown Bozeman is turning heads and sparking conversations. 

Jim Thompson, mission and outreach chair at First Presbyterian Church, envisioned the transformation of the office building at 24 South Willson Avenue. 

“I sat at that intersection and looked at the blank walls over here and thought, ‘there's something else we could do here,’” Thompson said. 

The mural, created by local artist Kelsey Dzintars, showcases the local landscape, including references to the landscape of the Gallatin Valley region. Dzintars is also known for creating one of the murals on the downtown parking garage. 

“It's obviously come a long way from a blank wall to an incredible creation with all sorts of references to life in this community, ranging from Gallatin River area with Sheep Rock up top all the way to rivers streams and mountains,” Thompson said. 

The theme of the mural is wellness. 

“Living in the Gallatin Valley for over 30 years, wellness is pretty much essential to those of us who live here and people who choose to live here. So, it's just, it'skind of a given. It's a no brainer,” Thompson said. 

The Downtown Bozeman Partnership provided a grant to fund the project. Bozeman Health joined as a collaborator, reinforcing the wellness message and acknowledging their history of operating their old hospital nearby. 

“Body, mind and spirit. And we're over on that corner as a church, and they're over this other way as a hospital. So, a great partnership,” Thompson said. 

Visitors can use their smartphones to scan a QR code located at the mural to access a website. This site offers more information about the artist, the building's history, Bozeman Health and First Presbyterian Church.  

The building, which once operated as an egg and chick hatchery in the 1930s and 1940s, is also referenced in the mural.  

Additionally, the website provides an augmented reality option to view the mural, offering insights into the building’s history. 

For more information, visitors can explore the website linked through the QR code at the mural site.