A Natural Connection
Featuring works by John Andrew, Alaina Buffalo Spirit and Bill Ryder
- February 13th, 2015 through March 30th, 2015
- Opening Reception February 13th at 5:30 – 8pm
- Artist Talks February 13th at 5:30pm, reception follows.
A Natural Connection highlights the way artists often use discarded, unwanted or damaged materials to create things of beauty. This exhibit features wood vessels made of diseased or salvaged trees; stories told on discarded or damaged papers; and graceful horses made of unwanted old machines.
- John Andrew transforms trunks of trees that have been removed from the earth for various reasons, into stunning works of art. With power tools and hours of hand-work, he creates graceful vessels both functional and decorative.
- Northern Cheyenne, Alaina Buffalo Spirit imbues old ledger pages, maps and other faded or folded papers with stories of her people … stories heard, remembered and interpreted from a woman’s point of view. She uses colored pencils and paint in her ledger artworks.
- Bill Ryder has been making large metal sculpted horses in Helena for years, and has recently begun to use parts from old typewriters and sewing machines to create smaller “steampunk” horse sculptures. He must have an “in” at the local thrift stores where he sorts through old machines to find his materials.
Each of the three artist’s vision begins in a natural context and honors our cultural heritage and contemporary sensibilities: the beauty of old trees and damaged wood; the spirit, strength and grace of horses; the original Peoples who lived in harmony with nature; We know you will be delighted by the familiarity of wood, horse and human experience in A Natural Connection. And … we hope you will be moved by these surprising re-interpretations of traditional stories and functional objects