At his death in October 1999, Alex Lowe was hailed by many as the best climber in the world. The climbing legend put up new routes in the ice features of Hyalite Canyon and the tallest peaks in the world, but it was his infectious spirit that drew others to him on his daring adventures.

In 2003-2004, Terry Cunningham, current Bozeman mayor, spearheaded the arduous and ultimately successful effort to have a peak south of Bozeman and west of Mount Blackmore named in honor of Alex.

Terry is one of 10 presenters at the next PK Night at the Ellen Theatre Wednesday, Feb. 19 and Thursday, Feb. 20. Both nights feature the same speakers.

One-hundred-year-old rocket scientist, Congressional Gold Medal Winner and docent at the Museum of the Rockies for 34 years, Maury Irvine will present on his travels with famed dinosaur expert Jack Horner. A veteran PK presenter, Maury will describe his experiences with Jack in Mongolia, Romania, Kenya, Patagonia and Egg Mountain in Montana.

Dave Carlson will regale us with stories of the ups and downs he and his wife experienced over the past seven years in their search for innovative ways to keep their heat pumps working, their electric snowblower and car charged and their food cooked.


Trying to make a living in a challenging environment is nothing new to our local beaver population. Frank Marchak says the plethora of beavers in the Gallatin Valley created an ecosystem supporting a wide range of biodiversity. But Bozeman's rapid development has had a dramatic impact on the number of beavers and the size of our wetlands. This can be fixed, says Marchak, who argues that beavers are "dam good neighbors."

Jim Madden and Steve Novel will tell the story of the grass-roots citizens collective, See Bozeman Creek. The group was started in 2020, to ask, "What if Bozeman Creek, as it flows downtown, became a cultural, environmental, and community asset in downtown, rather than a degraded and neglected liability?"

Looking skyward, Pat Hansen, who gives stargazing presentations at the Museum of the Rockies Planetarium, will show us why stargazing under Montana's clear, dark skies is an incredible way to connect with the universe and to reflect on our place within it.

Gennifre Hartman, head of school at Headwaters Academy, asks us to reconsider another part of our lives—how we travel. Rather than focus on Instagram-worthy moments, she calls for us to embrace unscripted moments, build community, and foster genuine connection.

Ken Sinay, an interpretive guide in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem for more than 30 years, gives us an inside look at the intimate connection to the landscape possessed by William Clark and Sacagawea and lacking in most travelers today.

The February PechaKucha Night also will feature two presentations on art. Sreyroth Johnson (Sunflower), a Montessori School teacher and Nalisa Chea, an MSU student, share their love of Cambodian art and Apsara dance.

In an effort to broaden communication with a women's farmer co-op in Senegal, Bruce Barnhart helped to introduce drawing to the people of Ndangane Village. In "The Art of the Stick Figure," Barnhart will describe how drawing proved to be an engaging way to communicate across language and culture.

Writer, funnyman, puppeteer and manager of the Great Rocky Mountain Toy Store Ryan Cassavaugh will emcee.
Presenting sponsor is Gallatin Valley Earth Day.

PechaKucha offers anyone with a passion or a vision--designers, artists, inventors, architects, engineers, adventurers, entrepreneurs — an opportunity to share their ideas with the community during a fast-paced, friendly social get-together. There's just one catch —presenters have only 20 slides x 20 seconds each, a total of 6 minutes, 40 seconds!

Tickets are available at theellentheatre.com for $9 (including facility fee). Students may purchase tickets at the door for $5.50.


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