An all-consuming passion

If David Englund could go back in time and tell himself he would someday become an artist, he’d probably laugh in disbelief.

The sculptor and now third partner of Missoula’s Gibson and Schweyen Gallery, co-owned by Mark Gibson and Brian Schweyen, got into the art business eleven years ago, almost by accident. 

While working at the pulp mill in Frenchtown, Englund knew a friend who was into industrial bronze casting.

“He asked me to do some sculpting, and I resisted for two years because I had never done any art before,” Englund said. “He finally gave me some clay, and I made a brown trout. People asked if it was for sale, I sold it, and eventually made 50, and sold it out. I just kept on going from there.”

Englund said that in the years since, art has taken over his life.

“I love it.  It’s all consuming,” he said.

Although Englund has no formal artistic training, he’s always had an appreciation of and a love for art. He has managed to mold his passion into the only permanent sculpting gallery in Missoula.

Englund’s sculptures eventually caught the attention of Gibson and Schweyen. The artists met Englund through mutual friends a year ago, and soon afterwards asked him to show some pieces in their gallery.

The trio hit it off, and Englund quickly became a partner. “We featured so much of his stuff that it just made more sense to make him a partner,” said Brian Schweyen, co-owner of Gibson and Schweyen Gallery.

Adding Englund as a partner “helps out a ton … it makes the rent cheaper,” Schweyen said, laughing and adding that “It’s always nice to have a sculptor.”

“It was a good move,” Englund said. “Mark and Brian do a lot of paintings, and the sculptures help balance the gallery. It’s a nice mix.”

The three men are avid outdoorsmen, and this passion is reflected in their artwork.

“I’m out as much as I can get out,” Englund said.

And when he isn’t outside, he is reliving his fly-fishing and backpacking experiences through his sculptures. Englund is currently working on a blue heron piece, and gallery visitors can watch its progress as he works in the studio.

The gallery, now called Gibson, Schweyen and Englund, will be reopening in its new location this week, just in time for First Friday.

Now on the corner of Broadway and Higgins, it shares a foyer with The Dana Gallery. Englund said he thinks the proximity to the popular gallery won’t hurt anything, and laughed at the idea of any sort of rivalry between the galleries.

All three artists will be showcasing new outdoor-themed artwork for this week’s First Friday art walk.