In a timely presentation, Bozeman oncologist and Venezuela native William Conkright will showcase his country’s natural beauty, culture and history at the next PechaKucha Night.

Much natural beauty can be found right in our own state. Matt Peters will give us a tour of some of Montana’s greatest venues for music, ranging from Pine Creek Lodge, to a 9,000-person forest oasis.

Of course, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, or so the saying goes. Few have ever imagined needing to wear a prosthetic eye in a culture where eye contract is so important. But Melissa Butynski will introduce us to the surprisingly hilarious and evolving world of ocular prosthetics, which offer a novel means of self-expression.

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all, and Karen May has the perfect vehicle—a 1949 International Harvester pick-up truck she calls “Rusty.” Karen will describe the two-year process of bringing Rusty back to life and the many adventures she and Rusty have shared.

In keeping with this “retro” theme, Ron Harms will recount his life as a country doctor in northern Wisconsin and give an old timer’s perspective on healthcare today.

Auctioneering is another profession that has changed greatly over the years. Craig Mandeville, who grew up in the auction business, will trace its history from Babylonian time to e-Bay.

Dog mushing also reminds us of a bygone era. Lisa Frankley will tell of her unique and humorous struggles racing a small sprint team in the 1990’s.

This PechaKucha features two presentations that focus on raising children outside of the traditional school. Jamie Hetherington will recall the story of Victor, “the wild boy” of Aveyron discovered in the forests of Southern France circa 1800.The boy, once dismissed a “hopeless,” became the subject of a landmark experiment that would forever change the landscape of education.

Here in Bozeman, many parents continue to look for new approaches to educate their children. Ciera Krinke will explore why the school day feels misaligned for so many families. She argues that understanding the origins of schools helps us rethink what learning could look like. 

It’s not just children who can benefit from a new approach.

Tricia Williamson, a school counselor for 20 years, helped create Felines and Foliage for Fulfillment (4F), a nonprofit that partners with local therapists to refer clients to “cat enrichment sessions” and pairs people to work on gardening projects.

Gardening is close to Tori Pintar’s heart as well. Two years ago, Tori and her husband began converting their turf grass into raised vegetable gardens and perennial drought tolerant plant beds. Like any DIY project, it took much longer than anticipated, cost more, and gave them far more than tomatoes, including some unexpected visitors.

Terry Cunningham, who just completed his term as Bozeman’s mayor, will serve as emcee of this PK Night, which is sponsored by Gallatin Valley Earth Day.