Dennae Tirrell started Biome Slow Craft in Bozeman as a venue where artists can sell their crafts. In doing so, she’s built a meaningful community for makers and those who enjoy the arts
Community Boutique Cultivates a Place for the Arts
In northeast Bozeman, a new development was recently unveiled. Built around staples like Wild Crumb and Fink’s Delicatessen, the Wildlands Development boasts $2.5 million apartments, and along its prominent facade now sits Biome Slow Craft, a small boutique steeped in the local community.
With a background in set design and jewelry making, owner Dennae Tirrell led something of a nomadic life for many years, traveling from her home base in Montana to follow the seasonal circuit of art markets that line the West Coast.
For many artists, Tirrell included, these markets provide the income, infrastructure, and customer turnover that can be difficult to access in just one store or one location. However, selling on the road can be mentally and physically taxing, and Tirrell eventually had to step away due to a back injury.
This shift for Tirrell occurred just as markets across the West shuttered due to the pandemic. Witnessing their closures, Tirrell saw an opportunity to create a permanent space that truly valued and uplifted artists. In September 2020, Biome Slow Craft opened its doors off Bridger Drive in north Bozeman, offering local and handmade goods in addition to a flexible community space that featured workshops and themed events.
Having spent many years learning how to price her jewelry, display her work, and build relationships with other artists, Tirrell had gained valuable insight into the business side of the handmade art world. She also realized the tangible support artists need to thrive in pursuit of their crafts.
At Biome, artists rotate every few months, providing flexibility for “slow crafts,” which are difficult to produce on-demand. Every artist sells on consignment, meaning they receive a much higher percentage of the sale price than in wholesale arrangements, and they maintain the flexibility to adjust products and prices based on what’s selling. Tirrell describes the feelings of sheer gratitude this brings up for some of her artists, many of whom are bringing in meaningful income through their craft for the first time.
Despite the store’s overall success, Tirrell struggled to find a physical space that met Biome’s dynamic offerings. After a couple of location changes, she put in an application for a commercial space at the Wildlands Development. “When it was approved, I was completely floored,” she says.
Tirrell viewed her approval as a stroke of luck, but this belies the depth of genuine community-building she’s facilitated over the years. Throughout our interview, friends and neighbors stop by to say hi, catch up, and admire what’s on display: whimsical, bespoke apparel; colorful ceramics; and striking paintings immediately catch the eye.
“It’s about making the space and the community you want,” she says. “I hope that we provide a space where people can stop in—not necessarily to buy anything, but simply to be inspired.”
