Tag: susan mattson

July 28, 2018

Electric Bluebirds

Susan Mattson’s pair of bluebirds pull at my heart. After being around these evocative sculptures at the gallery for a few weeks (they are part of our summer sculpture exhibit) I wanted to learn more about bluebirds.

I came across a website all about bluebirds and I learned some things. Best was why we go all goofy about bluebirds. An excerpt: “Their song is enchanting. The velvety undertones are “…so soft and gentle; they sing to no one save themselves. Not loud and boastful like the mocker; not full of chatter like the purple martin. The bluebird song is a kind and personal “I love you” that one must be close and quiet to hear.” (Kenny Kleinpeter) Clyde Todd (1940) said their song, “…like the gentle murmur of a flowing brook in soothing cadence, awakens a sense of well-being and content in each responsive listener.”

Listen:

While the continued existence of bluebirds is threatened by human activities (pesticides, loss of open space) they are positively impacted by our conservation efforts.

Look closely at the bases of Susan’s Electric Bluebirds … a mass of humanity. Yep. That’s us. What is our connection to Nature? To these melodious beautiful beings? To the rest of our natural world? Do we appreciate or take for granted?

More of Susan Mattson’s thought-provoking ceramic art:

Susan Mattson is represented in Montana by 1+1=1 Gallery. Shop our online catalog for Susan’s sculptures and let us know if you’d like to live with her sculpture. We’ll make it happen!

May 24, 2018

SCULPTURE: Inside, Around and Between Ideas

“SCULPTURE: Inside, Around and Between Ideas” starts June 29th with an opening reception

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!

Artists include:

• Mary Jane Edwards, Sheridan, WY
• Nancy Goughnour, Helena, MT
• Paul Guillemette, Los Angeles, CA
• Betsey Hurd, Helena, MT
• Susan Mattson, Helena, MT
• George McCauley, Helena, MT
• Trudy Skari, Helena, MT

Think Sculpture is Just for Tables and Shelves?

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.

A few sneak peeks at some of the artwork in this show:

Paul Guillemette

Mary Jane Edwards

Betsey Hurd

George McCauley

Nancy Goughnour

Paul Guillemette

Susan Mattson

Trudy Skari

Betsey Hurd

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 — ever.)

September 26, 2017

Susan Mattson an art activist

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. 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 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. 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.

August 2, 2017

Current Exhibit – From Earth

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. 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 into 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 Edelen will have all-new atmospheric kiln pottery, including some fabulous naked-raku vessels in the exhibit. We have gorgeous new serving platters, yunomi cups, tea bowls, tumblers, whiskey shots and mugs by Gregg. Tim Carney will have a few traditional 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 feature 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 functional and non-functional sculptural pottery. Trudy 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

Gregg Edelen

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 — from something resembling skin, leather, powder and milk — 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 and take on life.

October 30, 2016

Forest Stream Prairie Opening Night

FOREST STREAM PRAIRIE 2016: featuring new work by Dan McArdle & Maureen Shaughnessy

Mounting an exhibit takes us a couple of days. We take down the previous exhibit and pack up pieces that have sold. Unsold pieces go into our art storage downstairs. Then we patch holes in the walls, re-paint walls and pedestals and clean up. Next comes arranging the new artwork, hanging it, setting out pedestals and sculptures … then lighting, labels, window decor and many other tasks. Whew!

Gallery window

Gallery Talk and Artist Demo

Pre-Opening Quiet: When we are done hanging and lighting the show, I like to take photos of the whole exhibit before the crowd comes. It’s quiet and I’m always really pleased with the new art and new arrangement.

Opening night was a blast! An appreciative crowd. Excellent gallery talks by the artists and a fabulous reception. Great way to spend a Friday evening in downtown Helena.

We are always so grateful for all the folks who attend the openings, listen to the talks and celebrate the artists with us on opening night. We also love seeing you any day we’re open. Sometimes a quiet afternoon at the gallery is the perfect time to really look deeply at the exhibits. Thank you for your support!

Our Back Gallery features artworks by artists we represent, including:

Peter Shaughnessy, Jean Albus, Trudy Skari, Patty Ceglio, Nancy Goughnour, Mary Beth Shaughnessy, Maureen Cole, Sarah Magar, Sam Briegel, Gregg Edelen, Elizabeth Hughes Bass, Andres Cross Guns, Tina Albro, John Andrew and Tim J. Carney.

Catching some time with friends in the studio behind the gallery

November 30, 2015

One Family: Three Visions Opening Pics

Thank you to everyone who came to our opening reception for the gallery talks and wine/sushi party afterwards. We had a full house and lots of fun. I am so glad my friends and gallery supporters had the opportunity to meet some of my creative siblings, my mom and my son, who painted the installation mural for me.

Peter Shaughnessy is an accomplished sculptor, home-builder and outdoorsman. He brought 12 exquisite wood sculptures from his home in Tatlyoko British Columbia, for this show. His wife, Roma, is an integral part of Peter’s art in many ways. Just seeing the way she carefully wrapped the sculptures for the trip to Montana, and seeing her bopping around taking photos impressed me!

Mary Beth Shaughnessy has been painting and drawing for many years, using her skills as an architect and artist interchangeably it seems. Her colorful acrylic paintings illustrate the relationship she cultivated with her children as they explored the natural world together. She tells stories through her art — the kind of stories we used to tell each other as children and parents and children pass along, about the trees, creeks, boulders, animals and other plants in the places we love.

Gabe Shaughnessy lives and works in Portland, Oregon — he spends about half his time writing design code for a large software company, and the other half in his art studio creating art and murals with Lumenal Code. Gabe helped me paint the mural for my installation, Mother Tree.

Mary, Peter and Roma Shaughnessy drove down from BC with our mother, Pat Shaughnessy who was our guest of honor at the opening. She and our dad, Ed, were the ones who started this, that’s for sure — and we were enormously glad to have her here!

And, of course, we couldn’t manage without Tim Carney, who makes the physical space happen, no matter what configuration Maureen comes up with. Thank you, Tim!

Whether you were able to come to opening night — or not — we invite you to enjoy these photos, and if you’re in town, stop by the gallery anytime between Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 to 6 pm or Saturdays/Sundays 11 to 5pm. We’re open Sundays just for the holidays.

I will add more pics as I get them uploaded. In the meantime, enjoy! And warm wishes at this time nearing Winter Solstice!