Thank you so very much to everyone who came to the opening of Press Here: a Printmakers Showcase. It was a resounding success; a great crowd; enthusiasm for the gallery talks; delish food and wine … and of course, the art on the walls: fabulous.
We are truly looking forward to our first exhibit of the fall, PRESS HERE. Opening night will be September 7th, when you can be the first to see the prints coming out of the studios of artists who work at Pratt Institute of Arts, and the local studios of Carol Montgomery and Maureen Shaughnessy. We are excited to introduce our art buyers and art lovers to something different — the printmakers who live and work in Seattle bring a fresh perspective to what we are all used to out here in Montana. Most of the Seattle printmakers work in the print studio at Pratt Fine Arts, and show in one or more Seattle galleries. We are honored to have them at 1+1=1 in Helena! As well, Carol and Maureen have been hard at work creating new linocuts, monoprints and collagraphs for the show. Expect to be surprised, delighted and moved by this collection of printmakers’ artworks.
What: new exhibit, “PRESS HERE”
When: Friday Sep. 7 from 5 to 8pm
Who: Our opening events are for everyone, kids too — and it’s free
Where: 1+1=1 Gallery is located at 434 North Last Chance Gulch in Helena, Montana.
More Info: Call the gallery 406.431.9931 or email us
All artworks featured in PRESS HERE will be available through our online exhibit catalog beginning the day after the show opens. Watch for a link at the top of our home page here, or to make sure you don’t miss it, subscribe to our love notes and we will send you a link in an email that morning. The catalog goes live on September 8th.
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Our next show opens August 3 and runs through September 1, 2018. Please join us on opening night for a reception, to meet the artists and get the best choice of functional pieces for your home, office or gifts.
What: Opening Reception of “Ritual: functional clay in everyday life”
When: Friday Aug. 3 from 5 to 8pm
Who: Our opening events are for everyone, kids too — and it’s free
Where: 1+1=1 Gallery is located at 434 North Last Chance Gulch in Helena, Montana.
More Info: Call the gallery 406.431.9931 or email us
Ritual. Isn’t that something we should save for special days? Why not create more meaning in everyday activities? Rituals slow us down, connect us with the origins of things and the underlying beauty of all life. From cooking and eating … to lighting a candle; placing flowers in a vase; drinking coffee, tea, ale or wine; bathing and brushing teeth; meditation and prayer; telling stories and tucking children or ourselves in bed … these are things we may do everyday and — if done with intention — can become wonderful meaningful moments for us.
Nine local and regional ceramic artists submitted a large selection of functional clay objects that can be used in our everyday life. Bowls, plates, cups, cookie jars, mugs, trays, vases and tumblers are just a few. Everything in the exhibit is beautiful enough to be displayed as a work of art … and useful enough to become part of your everyday life.
Just in time for Montana visitors looking for something special to take home, and for Helena residents who want to treat themselves or someone to a one-of-a-kind useful gift. We will have the entire exhibit in our online catalog for anyone who can’t make it to the gallery in person. The catalog goes live on August 4th.Â
Subscribe to our email love notes so you don’t miss knowing about it!
Here’s where you can subscribe to our “love notes” to get updates on events and invitations to our opening receptions for new exhibits. (We promise not to spam you or share your private info with anyone —Â ever.)
Our next show opens June 29th and runs through July 28th. It’s a short exhibit but long on diversity and depth. We asked five Helena artists, as well as an artist from Wyoming and a California artist, to contribute a body of sculptural works to this show. These seven artists explore volume, space and ideas using clay, bronze, wood and mixed-media. And whoah – are we excited to see what’s been coming in!
Our 2018 Sculpture show promises to astound and delight you with pieces for your walls, floors, ceilings, shelves or tables. Whether you have a small wall space, a coffee table, hearth, mantle, side tables or shelves in need of a statement piece or a tender, quieter piece, we will have something for everyone. Paul Guillemette’s pieces are free-standing, wall-mounted or hanging from the ceiling. Nancy Goughnour again delights us with all-new wall figures of strong bold women. Trudy Skari’s latest free-standing and wall pieces take her bemusing foxes, bears and rabbits to another level of accomplishment. Mary Jane Edwards’s body of 12 “Caged Memories” provoke thought and curiosity. New polymorphic fabulism figures by Betsey Hurd join her masterful bronze equine sculptures.
Here’s where you can subscribe to our “love notes” to get updates on events and invitations to our opening receptions for new exhibits. (We promise not to spam you or share your private info with anyone —Â ever.)
Running from May 25 through June 23 this year, BODY will focus on one-of-a-kind art jewelry and unique contemporary figurative artworks (woodcuts, embroidery, oil paintings and ceramic vessels.) Please join us Friday evening, May 25th for an opening reception and to meet the artists.
Figurative art can often affirm us, push our buttons, inspire or disturb us. Figurative artists challenge us with their reflections on gender and human bodies to think about ourselves with awareness, tenderness, acceptance and even forgiveness. Ouida Touchon of New Mexico, Laurie Shaman of Illinois, Kate Fisher of New York, and Elizabeth Hughes Bass of Butte Montana, are the featured figurative artists this year.
Art jewelry sometimes pushes the boundaries of what we may think of as ornament for our bodies. We have invited jewelry artists whose studio jewelry is unique, contemporary or traditional, to be part of the show. Montana and national jewelry artists will be featured. We have art jewelers who work with fabric, felt, ribbon, paper and found objects, botanicals, silver, gold and other precious metals, stones, semi-precious stones, fossils, clay and natural objects, along with vintage and antique buttons and beads. You never know, we might even end up with some jewelry featuring tiny vintage toys. Come see the incredible variety and fabulousness!
Featured Artists in 2018 Annual Art Jewelry & Figurative Art invitational:
Contemporary one-of-a-kind body ornament . Bodies on ceramic vessels . Contemporary embroidered figurative pieces . Accomplished brushwork in oil on panels . Fascinating artists . Scrumptious food . Wine . Lovely company . Elegance all around
Check back often or subscribe to our email updates (love notes) to find out more details about this exhibit in the near future.
HAND PLUCKED: an exhibit of art selected by your very own friends and neighbors, opens Friday evening, March 2, and runs through April 14, 2018.
When we began planning this exhibit last summer, we knew we wanted to continue our annual tradition which allows us to really step back, take stock, and marvel at the incredible amount of beauty and hard work that has flowed into the gallery over time. Formally referred to as “Best of the Back Room” or “All Artist Winter Review“, this year, we wanted to give it a new twist. We began with a working title– Staff Picks — borrowing from a local independent bookstore that lets staff choose their favorites and give a little explanation of their choice. It’s such a cool way of getting to know the staff on a deeper level and often highlights selections that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. In any case, it creates a cool connection and we are all about cool connections here at 1+1=1. It’s kinda’ our thing.
We didn’t want to limit the plucking to just the six of us; we wanted to include others from our community. Once we started thinking of who to ask help pluck, we became very excited about the concept of getting to know each other through the art we love. If all goes well, we hope to create a new tradition that, each year, our gallery regulars will anticipate with glee.Â
So, Hand-Plucked was born. Each “plucker” (as we’ve so lovingly named them) arrived on the scene with their unique taste, personality, lifestyle, decision-making approach and stylistic considerations. The pieces they’ve chosen appeal to them and speak to them in the way only art can. This exhibit will be a gathering of these selections and will, hopefully, speak to you as well about the power of art.
Among the pluckers are: our gallery “staff” Tim and Maureen; Claire who works full-time as our Assistant Gallery Manager; part-time staff Susan Mattson and Marcia Eidel, and, of course, Charlie, whose main job is greeting customers and holding down the floor.
Additionally, this year’s pluckers include those who, in their own way, have been very supportive of our gallery over the past four years. Thank you to Chelsia Rice, Laura George, Andrea Cross Guns, Terri Hamilton, Renee´Kowalski, Akilah Lane and daughters, Zahara and Imara, Tim and Jen Davis, Mike and Colleen Casey, Patty Aaberg, Guylaine Gelinas and Mary Ahmann Hibbard, and Michelle Herrington.
We have so many folks who support 1+1=1 Gallery in so many ways. You attend our receptions and events (even though you’re so busy)! You visit the gallery when it’s quiet, carving out time to deeply ponder and consider the artwork. You volunteer your time. You buy pieces you LOVE. You help us spread the word and bring new people in to see us. You donate funds to help support Sound Gallery or art student scholarships. Trust us when we say, it was not easy to pluck our pluckers. This is a huge reason we want to keep the Hand-Plucked ball rolling, so we can ask a whole new group next year!
Stay tuned and come get a taste of our fresh, hand-plucked art on March 2.
Well, we are making our Hygge Open House a true Helena tradition. Every year we’ve offered this fun event, attendance has grown and folks are telling us they look forward to it! Our hope is that by next year, all of downtown Helena will take part in an annual mid-winter Hygge Festival.
This year, our 1+1=1 Gallery Hygge Open House is just one day — Saturday, Feb. 3rd from 10 to 5 — designed to get you out of your cabin (we know you have the fever) … safely over the ice and down to the gallery to enjoy some delicious homemade warm food, hot drinks, energetic live music, a special presentation by a special guest about Hygge and a coffee tasting, a fascinating wood carving demonstration and a peek at the brand new printmaking studio we’ve been working hard on all January. Don’t miss this event. We will be so happy to see you on the 3rd!Â
Warm your bellies
Warm your hands
Warm your heartsMaybe we’ll generate enough warmth with hygge, to melt our icy streets!
Drop in to the gallery anytime on Saturday and be surprised by what you find! Ask us about hygge. Experience it. Listen to a special guest talk about Denmark and hygge. Take in our current art exhibit. I’d say “chill out with us” but it will be anything but chilly at 1+1=1 that day. See you.Â
Consider doing your gift shopping this holiday season at small locally owned businesses that support artists. Can you imagine your city without Art?
Artists featured in our Small Works show include: Tina Albro, John Andrew, Elizabeth Hughes BAss, Lori Blaylock, Tim Carney, Patty Ceglio, Maureen Cole, April Coppini, Gregg Edelen, Nancy Goughnour, Paul Guillemette, Betsey Hurd, Judy Kline, Kris Kramer, Bonnie Lambert, Robin Leenhouts, Sarah Magar, Cristina Simona Marion, Susan Mattson, Dan McArdle, George McCauley, Carol Montgomery, Darla Myers, Page Kelly Piccolo, Poo Putsch, Laurie Shaman, Maureen Shaughnessy, Gabe Shaughnessy, Trudy Skari and Ouida Touchon
Extended Saturday hours: our usual winter gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 11 to 6pm and Saturdays 10 to 5pm. We will be open on Saturdays from November 18th through December 23rd from 10 to 7, for your shopping convenience.
Kids Ornament-Making Sesh: From 1 to 4pm on December 16th, drop off your kids (ages 6 to 9) at the studio in the back of 1+1=1 Gallery, to make their own creative unusual ornaments. Gives you a little time to do some downtown shopping. Younger kids must have a parent with them. Donations gladly accepted to pay for supplies.Â
Festive Winter Concert by Three Form, jazz trio comprised of Ann Tappan, Rob Kohler and Mj Williams. December 10th. Refreshments and socializing from 7 to 7:30. Music starts at 7:30 til 9pm. Come early to get a seat. Limited seating. Free will donations to pay the musicians are encouraged.
Thank you to everyone who came out for the Wood & Wax opening reception on October 6th. It was hugely successful and we are grateful for your support of our artists and the gallery.
Featured artists in Wood & Wax are John Andrew (burl bowls and bowls turned of Helena trees) Tim J Carney (contemporary fine furniture) Joyce Watts Coolidge (encaustic sculptures) Dan McArdle (carved wood relief sculptures) and Darla Myers (encaustic paintings)
Wood & Wax runs from October 6 through November 14. If you didn’t make it to the opening, there is still time to see this fabulous exhibit as we have curated it. Stop by anytime during gallery hours Tuesday through Friday 10 to 6 and Saturdays 10 to 5pm. Our opening receptions are always fun, festive and lively — and usually very educational. When the gallery is quiet on other days, visitors often have deeper experiences to the art — for sure it’s easier to step back and see the larger pieces when you are alone or with a much smaller group. Hope to see you downtown at the gallery in the next few weeks.
Thank you to Eric Seidle Photography for taking such great photos at our events. Please visit his website.
Susan Mattson is perhaps the most considerate person I have met. She deeply considers the ways in which various pieces of the world, herself included, influence and impact each other. Through her sculptures, Susan works out unresolved issues; both interior and exterior. While sculpting and carving, she allows her mind wander freely, reminiscing and following the flow of memories, regrets, projections, relationships.
Originally from Bozeman, Montana, Susan has traveled the world, taking a solo bike tour across the country at the age of 25. Every experience she has had, every place she has been, is still very alive within her. Â The past is carved into her psyche in a powerful way. She is a vessel of lessons.
Susan carries out her intentions through action. She remodeled a house in Butte to rescue it from demolition. She uses the pulp from her fresh juices to bake scones, because, even pulp can be useful. She works in mental health. Every decision Susan makes is preceded by the question, “what would happen if every person on the planet did this?”
She is a steady and humble activist; her art is a demonstration of her deeply held beliefs. But, she also has a goofy side. Let’s just say she’s spent a decent amount of time on testing the limits of the face-swapping app.
Driven by curiosity, Susan researches her subjects exhaustively which translates into unparalleled originality in her pieces. For example, her current piece, Nacho Scapegoat, led her on a quest to discover how goats have taken on the burdens of humans throughout history in many, many ways. Susan never just randomly selects a subject, they all have a story behind them, they are thickly layered with meaning.
Susan is pretty much the MacGyver of art galleries. She’ll improve mopping methods, solve temperature and lighting issues with nothing but a bed sheet and a clothespin and conquer mounting dilemmas in the craftiest of ways.
Something to keep in mind when experiencing Susan’s work: every face is made separately with tiny ceramic and dental tools, then pressed onto the body of the sculpture. This requires massive focus, determination, and patience; every sculpture takes many, many hours.
So, come. Plant yourself in front of one of Susan’s sculptures. Let it speak to you. Let it lead you down new path, or remind you of another time. Open up, lean in, listen.
