Helena Public Art Committee (HPAC) Past Events
HPAC at the Downtown Fall Art Walk, Nov. 9, 2012
The Helena Public Art Committee featured 5 artists at the Downtown Fall Art Walk on Nov. 9, 2012 at 101 N. Last Chance Gulch next door to the Lewis and Clark Heritage Center. Thank you to everyone who came to the Art Walk on that very snowy evening!
Jeremy McFarlane graduated from MSU Billings the spring of 2011 with a BA in Business Administration. Pottery was just a hobby for him until joining the Helena Clay Arts Guild. He started selling his pottery at the Helena Farmers Market in 2008, and started Jmacs Pottery 4 years later.
Robin Maynard is a Helena artist living in the north valley area. Her medium of creative expression ranges from acrylic and oil paints to glass beads, fabric, wood, local stone and rocks, and old iron artifacts she has collected. Robin depicts a world focusing on natural beauty, optimism and gentler times.
Mike Woodall, an artist and craftsman living in the Helena valley, has been making fine furniture for over ten years. Mike recently branched out into working with iron and wood, incorporating many elements from Montana’s historic past to create one of a kind decorative candle holders, boxes and tables, both beautiful and useful.
Joyce Squires, a Montana native, developed Miss Joyce Handbags and Crafts four years ago. The healthy back style is her main bag, designed and made from many types of fabric. She has added other bags and crafts to her table, including pet clothes, and each item is individually designed and handmade.
India Bauer is a local ceramic artist who produces distinctive sculptural work including provocative, abstract forms and whimsical figurines. She tends to push boundaries creatively and use alternative finishes. During the Art Walk, India's display will include the very whimsical, ceramic, Groove Cats.
"Art of Impermanence" presentation by migratory artist Mavis Muller
October 15, 2010
Contact Information
Art of Impermanence, Oct. 15, 2010
The public was invited to attend the "Art of Impermanence," a free presentation by migratory artist Mavis Muller on October 15, 2010 at UM-Helena College of Technology, 1115 North Roberts. A reception followed the presentation.
Each autumn Mavis leaves her studio-home in Alaska, and travels south to communities outside of Alaska. For 20 years she has followed her "land partners," the migratory Sandhill cranes, down the pacific and central flyways, returning again in spring.
Along the way, she is advocating for these birds and their threatened and vanishing habitat, as well as inspiring others with basketry exhibitions, speaking, performing, and teaching. She also facilitates projects of outdoor, community interactive, impermanent art. For more information about the artist, visit mavismullerart.com/profile.html.
Her "Art of Impermanence" lecture shared images and stories from her Burning Basket Project as an experience of interactive, impermanent art. Gathered from her background in creating baskets and woven with the desire to engage the public in a unique, living art form, Mavis has facilitated burning baskets in many communities. The large, intricate basket is given as a gift to the people, infused with decoration and spirit by willing participants, and finally burned, dramatically and upwardly releasing positive messages and heartfelt sentiments.
Mavis also taught a basket-making class on October 16, 2010. Class size was limited to 10 people, and was designed for beginners and for all ages. Participants made a basket, to keep, of natural materials such as cattail, grass, willow, and alder by using traditional weaving methods, combined with an innovative and imaginative spirit.
Both events were cooperatively sponsored by UM-Helena College of Technology Continuing Education and the Helena Public Art Committee, an appointed advisory committee to the Helena City Commission that promotes public art works in the Helena community and informs residents and visitors about the many pieces available to the public for their enjoyment. Support was also provided by the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.