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BODY: 2nd Annual Art Jewelry and Figurative Art Show

BODY 2018: Annual Art Jewelry & Figurative Art Invitational

May 25 – June 23, 2018

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:

Dave Barnes ~ Helena, MT
Elizabeth Hughes BassĀ  ~ Butte, MT
Lori Blaylock ~ Billings, MT
Kate Fisher ~ Rochester, ny
Paul Guillemette ~ Los Angeles, CA
Lynde Howe ~ Missoula, MT
Shelley Jones ~ Richmond, VA
Judy Kline ~ Helena, MT
Kris Kramer ~ Kalispell, MT
Ouida Touchon ~ Santa Fe, NM
Laurie Shaman ~ Chicago, IL
SaraHJess Swann ~ Bozeman, MT
Bonnie Lambert ~ Helena, MT
Didem Mert ~ Cincinnati, OH
Kristin Wornson ~ minneapolis, MN

Contemporary one-of-a-kind body ornament .Ā Bodies on ceramic vessels .Ā 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.

"Nebulatron" by Peter Shaughnessy of BC Canada

Flight exhibit opens Friday evening, April 20

Please join us at 1+1=1 Gallery for the opening reception of our newest exhibit, Flight, on Friday, April 20th from 5 to 8pm.

This fabulous exhibit features all new works by 14 artists whoā€™ve approached the theme of flight in their own distinct way, using many mediums including printmaking, clay, acrylic and oils, encaustic, wood, and charcoal. We invite our Montana friends and neighbors to experience these unique and thoughtfully created works, listen to a panel-style artist talk and enjoy refreshments from 5-8pm on Friday, April 20th.

Artists invited to participate in this show include Andrea Cross Guns, Linda McCray, Ouida Touchon, Darla Myers, Cristina Marian, Dan McArdle, Tina Albro, Becky Street, Larry Calkins, Laurie Shaman, Peter Shaughnessy, Trudy Skari, Brenda Wolf and April Coppini.

Maureen Shaughnessy remarks, ā€œIt took me 10 minutes of free association to come up with a list of 120 words or phrases associated with the word ā€˜flight.’ Words like wingding, arrow, acrobat, flight of fancy, stairway, invention, sky charts, flock, nest, dragonfly, vertigo, voyage, fly-fishing, sailboat, birds of a feather, you get the idea. I didn’t even scratch the surface of the almost infinite ideas about flight. Iā€™m so excited to see how these fourteen artists explore this theme!ā€

Flight runs from April 20 through May 19. 1+1=1 Gallery is located at 434 N. Last Chance Gulch. Spring is here and we have new extended hours: Tues-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 10am-5pm

A few sneaky peeks at some details:

Just for fun:

Hand Plucked Art Exhibit Opens March 2

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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–Ā Staff PicksĀ — 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.Ā 

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, ReneeĀ“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.

Scenes from past opening nights. Lotta fun. Better than the couch. šŸ˜‰Ā  Ā 

4th Annual Hygge Open House

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!Ā 

Warm your bellies
Warm your hands
Warm your hearts

Maybe 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.Ā  ļ€„

2017 Small Works Holiday Gift Show

The opening reception of our last exhibit of the year is always a festive party
and a great opportunity to do your holiday shopping — or just get ideas the first night.
Come back anytime before Christmas to check off your gift list.

What are Small Works? Why Shop Small? Why Art?

  • Small works are sometimes small or sometimes just simpler than the artistā€™s usual work.
  • Small works are affordable.
  • Small works donā€™t always fit in your pocket but sometimes they do.
  • Small works make very cool gifts for someone you love. Cuz small works are original. Art. Not made in China.
  • Small works are made by your friends, your neighbors, people you know and folks you really need to meet.
  • Buying small works to give as a gift — or for your own self — well that just an admirable thing to do.
  • When you buy handmade original art from a local artist, you are helping someone from our community make a living doing what they love to do.
  • Our gallery is dedicated to making opportunities for artists of all experience levels, so they can thrive and therefore work their magic on all of us.
Consider doing your gift shopping this holiday season at small locally owned businesses that support artists. Can you imagine your city without Art?
Porcelain Cup by Sarah Magar
Loving Birds Chine ColleĀ“collage by Ouida Touchon

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

 

Just for the Holidays:

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:Ā  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.Ā  Donations gladly accepted to pay for supplies.Ā 

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.Ā Free will donations to pay the musicians are encouraged.

Susan Mattson an art activist

Susan Mattson is perhaps the most considerate person I have met.Ā 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. Ā 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.Ā  But, she also has a goofy side.Ā  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,Ā Nacho Scapegoat, led her on a quest to discover how goats have taken on the burdens of humans throughout history in many, many ways.Ā Susan never just randomly selects a subject, they all have a story behind them, they are thickly layered with meaning.

Susan Mattson

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.Ā  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.

 

Trudy Skari, minimalist at heart

Trudy Skari is one of those rare people you meet who naturally balances the complexities and simplicities of life. A minimalist at heart, she focuses attentively on only a few things at aĀ time in order to truly appreciate all they have to offer.

Embracing her strong Estonian background, Trudy derives rich meaning and imagery from dreams and the landscape around her. Very early on, she learned to tend to her own needs, overcome obstacles, and use what she had at hand to thrive. It was a basic and simple upbringing. Creativity has always played a key role in how Trudy positions herself in the world.

Trudy owned her first book at the age of 5, The Lonely Doll, by Dare Wright. It sparked her fascination with relationships between humans and animals and offered a new way to tell a story. The music of Allan Sherman really developed Trudy’s humor and wit which is still very alive and evident in her sculptures.

From the moment she visited her first clay studio, Trudy was captivated by the immediacy of translating an image in her mind to a physical form in front of her eyes. From there, she fashioned a former ice-house into her own studio/bunker on a farm where art was not valued, settled in behind 18 inch thick concrete walls to carve out time to create.

A champion of resourcefulness, Trudy is known to use clay scraps that most ceramicists would discard. When sculpting, you might find her sipping cold lemonade and listening to Tango music. Trudy doesn’t like to get too hung up on details. Ā The vision is there, it wants out, she just opens the door and allows her pieces to emerge in a natural way.

Come to the gallery and view Trudy’s incredible sculptures.Ā  They are full of texture and pizazz; just begging to be held, touched, looked in the eye. One of them may even ask to come home with you, you just never know.

 

Gregg Edelen, artist of essence

For Gregg Edelen, pottery is medicine.

A retired sheriff’s deputy from Butte, Montana, Gregg has witnessed some pretty tough scenes. Gregg has used art to actively heal.Ā He finds beauty and solace working with clay. He pursues joy; you can hear it in his chuckle and see it in his smile. From forming wet clay to tending a wood-fired kiln all night long, to driving from Butte to Helena to teach, deliver or create, Gregg takes truly embraces all his creative process has to offer.

 

Gregg fishes, but doesn’t so much care about catching fish. He cares about camaraderie, long-time friendships, laughter by a campfire, the sound of a fish slurping a topwater fly. He hunts but doesn’t care about the harvest. He cares about the absolute love he has for his hunting dogs, their dedication, loyalty and affection. He cares about breathing in the landscape and having the freedom to roam. Gregg is a lover of process, a person of essence. He chooses to create but really feels that, in many ways, the drive to create chose him.

 

 

Woven into Gregg’s platters, cups and vases, are elements of his passions. You’ll find subtle landscapes within the design, flies he has tied for fishing adventures, imprints of tails and fins, glaze patterns that resemble rainbow trout. Gregg surrenders his pieces, at times, to a wood-fired kiln, which requires 18-hour stretches of constant attention and re-loading of wood. It requires loyal dedication and trust between the elements and the artists. When finished, each vessel has been kissed by the heat and is one of a kind.

Gregg is a Montana native, a family man, a teacher, a photographer, a music lover, and insists that any tie-dyed t-shirt he wears be handmade. His favorite drink is a Virgin Mary, he drinks exactly one beer a month (with pizza) but never drinks coffee or eats potatoes. Ever. He loves sunsets over water, visiting forgotten towns and telling corny jokes to kids.

Come in to catch the broad scope of Gregg’s work featured in our current exhibit for just a few more days.

Current Exhibit – From Earth

Tidepool Bowl by Trudy Skari
FROM EARTH: Clay & Pigment

 

Our next exhibit opens Friday, August 18th and of course, we invite you to join us for an opening night reception from 5 to 8pm. Three ceramic artists join one of our favorite painters with all new works in clay and acrylic paint.Ā All four of these artists have been with us since our first year and we are proud to exhibit their newest work!

With diverse mediums, techniques and styles, the exhibit is curated to connect us with the source of our creative vision – our Earth.

Featured artists are Andrea Cross Guns, Gregg Edelen, Trudy Skari and Susan Mattson. Please join us during the reception to meet the artists and hear brief gallery talks between 5:30 and 6pm. Wine and appetizers will be served after the talks.

Come at 5pm if you have your eye on something and want first dibs! (We will update the website with photos of some of the artworks as we receive them. Contact us if you see something you want.)

Andrea Cross Guns has been working hard in her studio painting intoĀ the wee hours. Her background as a teacher, poet, musician and composer play beautifully into the evolution of her newest paintings. I cannot wait to hang this show because it’s been awhile since we’d had new paintings by Andrea. Our walls will be vibrating with expressive color — I’m so excited!

Gregg EdelenĀ will have all-new atmospheric kiln pottery, including some fabulous naked-raku vessels in the exhibit. We have Ā gorgeous new serving platters, yunomi cups, tea bowls, tumblers, whiskey shots and mugs by Gregg. Tim Carney will have a few traditionalĀ Japanese tomobaku boxes available for Gregg’s yunomi’s and tea bowls. You have to see how the cups look in a tomobaku — they make wonderful gifts!

Susan Mattson’s latest work is a further development of her sought-after vessels with torsos or animal heads on top. As she makes the vessels, she forms hundreds of faces on the outside, each featureĀ individually marked with clay tools, and each face the result of a meditative, transformative personal process. The energy she embues in her sculptures is palpable, remarkable and often unanticipated.

Trudy Skari continues to take her ceramic sculptures in new directions and has been branching out into both functionalĀ and non-functional sculptural pottery. TrudyĀ has recently begun working with more texture, and will be showing some sculptural platters and bowls reminiscent of tide pools, the forest floor and sumptuous gardens. You will be surprised and delighted to see Trudy’s newest artwork, as well as some of your favorite, expressive Trudy-heads and small sculptures.

Trudy Skari
Trudy Skari
Trudy Skari
Trudy Skari
Trudy Skari
Trudy Skari
Trudy Skari
Trudy Skari
Gregg Edelen
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson
Andrea Cross Guns
Elements of Earth used by the four artists are the common thread in this exhibit.
Clays used for ceramic sculpture or functional pottery come from the Earth, and are transformed by Fire ā€” from something resembling skin, leather, powder and milk ā€” to a durable substance like stone or hard dry river banks.
Clay fields are shaped by water and the sun, cracking over time into surfaces of mystery and fascination. Artists shape clay with hands and tools, with water, fire and pigments into objects of beauty, sensuality and function.
Painters move pigment around on their surface of choice with brushes, knives and fingers. Their pigments made from earth: diatoms, carbon, cadmium, copper, china clay, iron oxide and other minerals and these days, pigments synthesized from minerals like petroleum. Some pigments include clay: China clay, viridian, umber and sienna.
As you look around at the artwork in this exhibit, consider how each artist utilizes earth elements to express their unique voice andĀ take on life.

Downtown Helena First Friday Tabla Jazz Fusion and Indian appetizers

Join us Friday, August 4th for Downtown Helena’s First Friday celebration!

We have a fun family-friendly special event planned for the evening.

Veggie Pakoras and ice cold chaiĀ by Ishinder Kaur … Ā Live performance of Tabla-Jazz Fusion by Jaskrit and Haransh Singh from 5:30 to 7:45 or so.

Hope you can make it to the 400 Block anytime between 5 and 8pm. Homemade traditional Indian appetizers will be served until the food and drink are gone. We’ll have other cool beverages for those who don’t want chai. šŸ˜‰

While you’re enjoying the music and refreshments, take in our current exhibit, the First AnnualĀ Art Jewelry and Figurative Art Invitational, and check out what we’ve put up inĀ the Back Gallery. As always, we offer the best (!) gift wrapping in town — it’s free and given with love.

 

We know there are many events happening this weekend, and Friday in particular. Consider spending a little time supporting your very special downtown before or after you attend another event!

Come listen to Jaskrit and Haransh Singh’s fabulous fusion of Indian tabla and jazz music, then head over to the Herb & Garden, Funky Trunk, Aizada ImportsĀ and JMac’s Pottery. AND — Don’t miss the 3rd anniversary party of Mountain Sage Gallery right across the street from 1+1=1. They’re planning a fun birthday-bash.

Everything is free! We hope to see you at the gallery. Call 431-9931 for more info.