It’s always a pleasure to meet someone who has a real passion for history, and more importantly, preserving and sharing that history with others. Great Falls artist and collector Shari Schmit is the new owner of the Collin’s Mansion that was built in 1891 for T. E. Collins. She has been busy filling the halls of the former Collin’s Mansion (which is now her home that she and her husband
Mike brilliantly restored), with Montana history and artifacts.
Shari launched The Bookmark Card Company with her collage designs after moving to Butte several years ago when her husband was transferred there with Northwestern Energy. For seven years she designed and printed her digital collage art cards. In 2013, Leanin’ Tree, a Boulder, Colorado, company bought out her company so she could exclusively design for them. It has turned out to be a wonderful partnership and Shari continues to create new designs and her work is sold at over 30,000 different stores across the United States.
Living in Butte for several years gave Shari the opportunity to amass an important collection of Montana history. As noted by Shari, “Collecting is one of my life’s greatest passions.
I believe it is imperative we preserve our Montana history and the many wonderful images and artifacts related to such. It is through the hunting and gathering of antique elements that my art is created. In each of my designs there is a combination of many pieces from my collections, along with humor. I only hope the viewer can walk away with a chuckle and a grin, and the buyer knows they are taking a little bit of the American West’s heart and soul with them.”
Shari loves Montana Women and features this passion in the majority of her designs. In her home her themed cowgirl room is filled with boots, figurines, a decorated saddle, beautiful ceramics, old film cameras, her own collages, art by Marilynn Dwyer Mason and much more. She finds her pieces at second-hand stores, antique stores, through friends, or even pure coincidence. But the mindful layout and organization of the room is no coincidence, giving space and attention to every possible detail. From the furniture and lamps to the art, she can tell you stories of their past lives in a refreshingly empathetic way, which makes you feel that giddy childlike wonder you get while reading an amazing novel. This compares only to Shari’s life, and the many fascinating chapters she’s written herself along the way.
Shari’s creativity hasn’t faded. From old Western photographs and prints, to three dimensional pieces she’s found, she scans and compiles them into aesthetic and colorful pieces of “digital collage art” by repurposing items and our history in a way that’s original, and inspiring.
So why is it important that people like Shari are in our community and preserving these items? Well, Montana has a rich history filled with the American spirit and the relentlessness of the people who came to find it. But when it comes to preserving this history, we tend to do so too late. So many stories have been buried with time, and it’s only those who collect that keep those who
passed alive in our hearts and minds.
In the words of Shari, “Anyone can be a collector of anything [that speaks] to them.” Shari can be reached on Facebook at Shari Jenkins Designs, LLC or on her website sharijenkins.com