Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate @ MSU also

Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate is a visual arts exhibition encouraging a re-examination of international social justice. The exhibit features works by forty artists from across the United States reflecting upon and transforming volumes of white supremacist propaganda into thought-provoking, relevant works of art.

The impetus for the Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate exhibit came from the Montana Human Rights Network that acquired a large quantity of white supremacist books from a defector. The books were used as a catalyst for change through collaboration with curators at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Montana. The Holter Museum issued a national call to artists to participate in the exhibition to create art from the hate books and turn them to constructive, positive use.

These artworks will be on display at the Emerson’s Jessie Wilber Gallery (see earlier post) from October 15 – December 15 and the Helen Copeland Gallery at Montana State University from November 23 – December 18. There is a reception at the Helen Copeland Gallery on Thursday, December 3, 7-9pm.

OST.ONE: Paintings by Liz Compos @ Exit Gallery

ASMSU Campus Entertainment presents OST.ONE, a collection of oil paintings by Liz Compos. The exhibit will be showing in the Exit Gallery November 30 – December 11. There will be a free public artist reception Wednesday, December 9th from 5 – 7 pm.

Liz Compos is currently a student at Montana State University, working towards graduating with a BFA in painting. Last May she returned from a semester of studying in Italy, and also worked on her Bachelors degree at The Art Institute of Boston in Boston, Massachusetts.

The works shown in the exhibit are oil paint and mixed media on canvas.  They are part of a larger body of work that is still in progress. Through her work, Liz responds to the struggle between mankind and the manufactured object to create paintings that reflect the state of human culture and the age of technology.  According to Compos, in this day and age people are no more important than their increasingly complex inventions. She demonstrates the battle between the human organic state and the surroundings we have fabricated for ourselves with an intricate layering process of structurally correct charcoal drawings, sculptural, fleshy masses of oil paint inspired by the human form, fields of flat artificial color, and a geometric breakdown of the space.

The Exit Gallery is located in Strand Union Building room 212, Montana State University, Bozeman. Hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.

Annie Bailey drawings @ tart

Artist Annie Bailey explores her love of font and text in an exhibit of new work. Sketches of vintage typewriters (some with customizable messages) share space with drawings of old grain elevators, signs and other Montana classic images, all rendered in Bailey’s clean, modern style. A Montana native, Bailey grew up on a ranch and draws inspiration from the things that surrounded her in childhood. Grain elevators, signs from small town businesses long gone, old billboards, and the typewriter she inherited from her grandmother all draw her eye with words rendered into art. Currently studying architecture at Montana State University, Bailey’s drawings also reference her love of line, form and structure.

Opening reception on Friday, December 11th 5-8p.m, in tart, room #107C of the Emerson Center, 111 S. Grand Ave.,  call 582-0416 for more information.  The show will be on display until January 10th.

Functional Sculpture, Sculptural Function

ASMSU Campus Entertainment presents: Functional Sculpture, Sculptural Function, a collection of ceramics by the MSU Ceramics Guild. The exhibit will be showing in The Exit Gallery November 16 – 24. There will be a free public artist reception Wednesday, November 18th from 5 – 7 pm.

The Ceramics Guild of Montana State University is a group of student and alumni ceramic artists who come together to organize firings, fund-raisers, ideas and fellowship.  With this guild, they aim to accomplish a better understanding of process.  The Guild provides an environment of cross pollination which inevitably gives birth to new themes, directions and work. It is a group of passionate artists attempting to illuminate the human condition through their material. Their fund-raisers allow for the opportunity of visiting artists, conferences, and direct contact with inspirational leaders in the ceramic world.

The Exit Gallery is located in Strand Union Building room 212, Montana State University, Bozeman. Hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.

Galleria Art Walk

New exhibits and refreshments at the Emerson Galleria Art Walk this Friday, 5-8 pm:

Artists’ Gallery: Gerri Carlson showing “Tom Morgan’s Favorite Flies Favorite Waters” handbound book and Joan Pribanic showing new oil paintings based on favorite sites along nearby rivers
Beaucoup Framing and Gallery: Panoramic Photography by Craig Hergert
ECCE: Peter Moore Visions of the North Fork and scarves by Sarah Pilgrim
Glasscrafters and Infusion Jewelry: Mixed Media Work by Debb Rogers and Jewelry by Vickie Raisler
Mia Anima Studio and Gallery: work by local and Tibetan artists
Montana Panoramic Gallery: Panoramic Photography by Craig Hergert
tart: “Birds and Beasts”: Mixed Media Constructions by Vicki Fish

Convivium: MSU Art in Italy

The Helen E. Copeland Gallery invites everyone to attend the student exhibition Convivium, work by the MSU undergraduates who studied in Italy during the spring semester of 2009.  Thursday, November 19th from 7-9 p.m, there will be an opening reception and talk with retired director and professor of the School of Art, Richard Helzer. The opening reception with the artists is free and open to the public.

The exhibition, which runs from November 12th – November 20th showcases works by Montana State University students who spent Spring 2009 studying art and art history in Italy.  Instructed by MSU professors Regina Gee and Richard Helzer, the students traveled extensively throughout the country and spent several weeks working on drawing and ceramics while staying at an Umbrian villa. The students worked in a professional Italian ceramic studio with the intention of designing work for the dining room. Convivium, from the Latin banquet or feast, is an exhibition of the ceramic work as well as different drawing projects that the students worked on throughout their stay in Italy.

The Helen E. Copeland Gallery is located on the second floor of Haynes Hall on the MSU-Bozeman campus.  Haynes Hall is on 11th Avenue across from the duck pond.  For more information, please call Erin W. Anderson at 994-2562.

Drawing on Main: Paul Heaston sketches @ Story Mansion

On November 12, 13, and 14, Paul Heaston will exhibit his complete Main Street artwork and share his artistic experiences as “Main Street Chronicler” at the Story Mansion with support from the MSU School of Art, the Friends of the Story Mansion, and the Downtown Bozeman Partnership.

Beginning in September of 2008 and through the winter of 2009, Montana State University MFA student Paul Heaston spent time sitting with a sketchbook along Main Street with the intention of documenting the buildings in every block of Bozeman’s historic downtown core from Grand to Rouse Avenues. Heaston described his drawings as “less rigorous studies of architecture than they are an attempt to emphasize and amplify the character of the various buildings and cars.”

On March 6, 2009, just after 8 a.m., a massive explosion ripped through the 200 block of East Main Street, killing one person, destroying buildings that dated to the 1880s, and displacing businesses and residents. It was a tragedy that Bozeman residents felt deeply. After the explosion, a buzz began building at the MSU School of Art and throughout the community about “that guy who drew Main Street before the explosion.” Many have visited his website www.paulheaston.com, others have seen prints of his sketchbook at a local gallery, but his original sketchbook and a full set of prints have not been exhibited.

Heaston will be selling copies of his sketches as prints, posters and postcards. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale and any donations received from the events will support the Friends of the Story Mansion and the MSU School of Art.

Scheduled Events

Thursday, November 12
7:00pm to 9:00pm Opening of The Paul Heaston: Main Street at Story Mansion
A reception for invited guests from the Downtown and University Communities featuring a gallery talk by the artist, refreshments, and music by Jawbone Railroad

Friday, November 13th
12:00pm to 5:00pm The Paul Heaston: Main Street Exhibit at Story Mansion
7:00pm to 9:00pm The Paul Heaston: Main Street Exhibit Public Reception, featuring a gallery talk by the artist, refreshments and music

Saturday, November 14th
10:00am to 5:00pm Open Mansion to view the exhibit
10:00am to 12:00pm Coffee, doughnuts and Story Mansion tours
12:00pm to 4:00pm “Sketch Crawl” a free drawing workshop in the BonTon Historic District with Paul Heaston and other MSU School of Art faculty

Brooke Karath @ Wild Joe’s

An exhibit of Brooke Karath’s Native American portraits will be on display at Wild Joe’s Coffee on Main Street through the month of November. Although Karath has lived in Bozeman for over 15 years, she has always been drawn to the beauty and spirit of northern New Mexico. She’s inspired by its rich regional heritage, majestic landscapes, and hypnotic night skies. She’s also dazzled by its people, their passion, artistry, and creativity. The driving force behind Karath’s work is the desire to honor the heritage, beauty, and heart of New Mexico and its people.

Karath prefers to work with pine and uses a combination of charcoal, watercolor, and acrylic. This particular exhibit will also feature several collaborative pieces with David Vargas, a talented wood carver from Abiquiu, New Mexico. 20% of sales will go to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank to provide assistance for families in need this holiday season.

Landscapes: Prints by Gesine Janzen @ Exit Gallery

ASMSU Campus Entertainment presents Landscapes, a collection of new prints by Gesine Janzen. Janzen, Associate Professor of Art and Head of Printmaking at MSU, received a Scholarship and Creativity Grant from the University to help support the work. The exhibit will be showing in the Exit Gallery November 2 – 13. There will be a free public artist reception Wednesday, November 4 from 5-7pm.

The Exit Gallery is located in Strand Union Building room 212, Montana State University, Bozeman. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

jROD and Pyper Hugos: “The Creative Life”

Living an inspired life isn’t always easy, making a living off inspiration can be even harder. So, is the creative life worth it? Jarrod Eastman (aka jROD) and Pyper Hugos think so. They are the husband and wife behind jRODaRT and You Got Mojo. They met 11 years ago in Granada, Spain. Magnetized by their mutual love of life and creativity, they have been pursuing careers in the arts ever since they met. Jarrod has always been drawn to painting while Pyper’s love for anything old and rusty, especially metal, has led her to jewelry. jROD’s work leans towards an urban aesthetic while holding true to a painterly style. His paintings appear kinetic and surreal with the essence of a story just beginning or of one in progress. Pyper’s jewelry is beautiful in its simplicity of design and color. Using reclaimed automotive steel, found objects, and sterling silver, she reinvents pieces that transcend time and genres, creating art that is at once retro yet modern.

These two artists have teamed up with Amy Kirkland of Altitude Gallery to bring you a one night art extravaganza…“The Creative Life”. They will be showing new artwork from the last few months in the studio. jROD will also be releasing a new 16 x 20 limited edition print series, and Pyper will be unveiling new bracelets and rings in her line of jewelry. This event is sponsored by Altitude Gallery and Montana Ale Works and will take place at the gallery located at 134 E. Main St. from 5 to 9pm on November 6th, 2009. Stop by for some great art and libations.

For more information contact Amy @ 406.582.4472 or visit www.altitudegallerybozeman.com, www.yougotmojo.com, or www.jrodart.com.