Like the celebrations that commemorate our bonds with Mother Earth - from global Earth Day activities to county fairs - the nature-inspired work of Montana artist Laura Jean Newby has helped promote conscientious care of the land. Newby has found a permanent home at one such celebration, and was more recently asked to visit another - the Old Salt Festival 2026. Set to take place in Helmville, Montana, the upcoming event is sponsored by the Old Salt Co-op, an agriculture partnership whose mission includes responsible land stewardship and whose motto reads, "land is kin."

Newby, a metal and glass artist, was introduced to the event's principals by the electrolyte drink company LMNT, who she was in talks with to design and fabricate a custom fire feature. They presented her to Old Salt, and after becoming acquainted with Newby and her creations - which include life-size depictions of large animals - the event's team invited Newby to take part.

 

"They loved my art and asked if they could basically rent some pieces for the festival," Newby states. "I told them I had a few available and I could also create something site specific."

This proposal led to the design of an archway made up of entwined steel vines and roots to symbolize the interconnection between land and people. Stemming off this metal framework are glass flowers in a variety of colors that, according to Newby, represent "the uniqueness of each person that can all come together as a community, intertwined as the vines are."

She also offered to provide the festival her bull elk sculpture whose body and head are formed with a variety of antler shapes, including moose paddles and bighorn sheep horns that she freehand, plasma-cut from metal, welded together, and treated with different patinas and rusting techniques for texture and character.

Some of Newby's handiwork is also a permanent installation commissioned by the Stevensville (Mont.) Scarecrow Festival to celebrate their 20th anniversary last autumn. Named "Keeper of the Seasons," the sculpture depicts a mysterious woman (see image) constructed of steel, stainless steel, and copper leaves that will change colors with the passage of time. She holds a brightly colored, kiln-fused glass flower bowl, which signifies new growth and community.

This year's Old Salt Festival will take place June 19-21 in Helmville, Montana, about 60 miles northwest of the state capital of Helena.