MY MONTANA

Archie Bray juried exhibit goes Beyond the Brickyard

Traci Rosenbaum
trosenbaum@greatfallstribune.com
  • BEYOND THE BRICKYARD
  • Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts
  • 2915 Country Club Ave., Helena
  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Natalia Arbelaez of Columbus, Ohio, won the 2016 Juror’s Award with her piece, “Moma Monarch.”

When people from around the country think of things Montana is famous for, many things come to mind. Big skies. Mountains. Hunting and fishing. The Unabomber.

But if you’re an artist, the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Montana is clay.

That’s because 65 years ago, arts patron Archie Bray looked at a spot nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Helena and imagined an art center designed to give those interested in the ceramic arts a beautiful place to work.

Since its inception, The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts has drawn more than 600 ceramic artists from around the world to work in what has become a world-renowned mecca for emerging talent and new techniques.

For the eighth year, the Bray has celebrated ceramics with Beyond the Brickyard, a juried show featuring work by artists from around the world.

“The title itself refers to the brickyard because the Bray was originally the Western Clay Manufacturing Company,” said exhibitions and gallery director Patty Dean. “The Bray Foundation was founded by one of the owners of the brick company 65 years ago.

Each year, the Bray has a series of visiting artists, and last year’s was Peter Beasecker, associate professor at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Tickets on sale for The Russell

When the call for submissions to Beyond the Brickyard went out, more than 200 artists submitted more than 600 works. Beasecker considered each one and chose 35 to be part of the exhibition.

The artists then packed up their creations and shipped them from all over the U.S., Canada, and even Beijing, China.

“It’s really an international competition,” Dean said, “because it does go out to so many publications and ceramic arts websites.”

From the 35 entries, Beasecker chose Natalia Arbelaez’s “Moma Monarchto” to win the juror’s award, and resident artist and director Steven Young Lee chose Lindsay Montgomery’s “Lake of Faces Platter” to receive the director’s award.

At the exhibition’s opening Jan. 29, the attendees had a chance to give out one more honor — the people’s choice award — which went to Andrew Cho’s “Harold.” Each winner receives a cash award and the distinction of being honored by the Bray.

“I know that artists who’ve been in the Beyond the Brickyard exhibition have become fellows here,” said Dean. “It’s pretty prestigious to be presented with an award, especially by an artist like Peter. So it’s a really great resume and portfolio builder.”

And it’s not just the winners who benefit from being chosen for the exhibition.

“All of (the pieces) pretty much are for sale,” said Dean. “It’s a great opportunity especially for people in Montana to purchase ceramics.”

Current resident artist and director Steven Young Lee awarded Lindsay Montgomery of Toronto, Canada the 2016 Director’s Award for her “Lake of Faces Platter.”

Montana artist Jonathan Fitz of Missoula received that opportunity. His piece, “Illuminate/Annihilate,” is listed at $2,000.

Beyond the Brickyard runs until April 2. The Bray’s gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and admission is free. All works from the exhibition can also be viewed online at www.archiebray.org, but Dean recommends seeing them in person.

“Of course, (online viewing) doesn’t compare to coming and seeing the actual works,” she said. “You have to come in and walk around the objects to really appreciate them.”

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Traci Rosenbaum at 791-1490. Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_TRosenba.

IF YOU GO

What: Beyond the Brickyard

Where: Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts

2915 Country Club Ave., Helena

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Admission: Free