September 22-23, 2012 Open Studios Tour Participating Artists – Noon – 5:00 PM
Welcome to the 4th Annual Helena Area Open Studios Tour, a fundraiser supporting public art, giving you an
opportunity to visit with and see 30+ artists at work in their studios. This year’s Tour features ceramics, jewelry,
painters, photographers, sculptors, and other artistic mediums. All of the participating studios are open both
Saturday and Sunday unless otherwise noted. Thank you for supporting Helena’s public art!
In Helena
1 - Jim Howard – paint, pen and ink Both days but 1:00-5:00 PM, Sunday, Sept. 23
Jim Howard studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He has served as pastor of churches in Minnesota,
Wyoming, and Montana, and have used his artwork in ministry, particularly as he has taught children. He has done
book illustration for various publishing houses, and taught classes in drawing and in watercolor.
2 - Jeremy McFarlane – pottery
Jeremy McFarlane, a 32-year old father and husband who graduated from MSU Billings the spring of 2011 with a
BA in Business Administration. Pottery was just a hobby for him until after an incident where both of his hips had
to be replaced and he joined the Helena Clay Arts Guild. He started selling his pottery at the Helena Farmers
Market in 2008, and started Jmacs Pottery in Helena 4 years later.
3 - Atwood Arts Gallery:
3a - Andrea Atwood – fiber arts, oil paintings
Andrea A. Atwood attended the U of M to study art and costuming, where she worked as a costumer for many
years in the Drama Department prior to becoming a preschool teacher for many years. Currently, she creates
artwork for “Atwood Arts,” her full time business, and she is a part-time bookkeeper for her husband’s accounting
firm. She teaches art and landscape quilting classes at Studio A and does commission artwork like banners/flags,
apparel, murals, portraits and fabric wall hangings. Her artwork is displayed at Atwood Accounting Services,
Montana Historical Society Museum, Montana Grizzly Encounter and St. Paul’s Church.
3b - Allison Flynn – beaded jewelry
Allison Flynn graduated from Capital High School, and is a Helena-based jewelry artist. Her training and education
are in the field of architectural drafting. She became interested in various types of beading and jewelry creations
after graduating from Montana State University Northern in Havre and moving to Helena. Her art features a
variety of techniques and beads.
3c - Charla Cullen - chainmaille, wire jewelry, knitted shawls and hats
Charla Cullen is a Montana-based fashion accessory artist. She graduated from Capital High and went on to MSU
for a degree in accounting. She currently works as an accountant for Neil and Co. in Bozeman. She became
interested in various types of beading and jewelry creations and is currently interested in chainmaille. Chainmaille
is created by bending hundreds of small metal loops together in a variety of patterns. She also creates a variety of
scarves, hats and fashion accessories with a variety of unique yarns.
3d - Conrad Flynn – landscape photography
Conrad Flynn is a Montana-based landscape photographer with a background that includes studies and
qualifications in Information Technology and Systems Development. He was introduced to photography in 2006
while taking dark room film electives as a college student at Montana State University - Northern. In the last year
Conrad has developed his skills traveling northwest Montana and studying under local artists. His art features
landscapes and settings in Montana he has called home, as well as a glimpse into his travel abroad.
3e - Artwork by the lateTracy Tomte - Unique Jewelry and Pointillist Pen and Ink Art
4 - Emily Free Wilson
The style and design of functional porcelain pottery originated from Emily Free Wilson. Colorful, whimsical
imagery is created influenced by Christmas lights, raindrops, river rock and fireworks. Family history and nostalgic
remnants from the past also sneak into various designs.
An optional "Paint A Tile" project, open to all ages, will be available for $5 at Free Ceramics.
Paint two tiles-one for the studio and one to take home.
A special children’s activity is also planned in conjunction with the Tour. Free Ceramics' Clay
Club program offers hands-on playing with clay. Drop your child off between 12 and 5pm
Saturday or Sunday, and they will get to make pots, sculpt animals, and get their hands dirty
throwing on a wheel.
5a - Jim Gilman
A self-taught artist, Jim Gilman began oil painting at the age of 13 and still tries to paint a few paintings every year
(despite being color-blind). He has dabbled in many art forms, but got stuck on clay and has been making ceramic
work since the mid-1980’s. He took pottery classes at the Archie Bray Foundation for over a decade, and built his
own studio in the early 1990’s. Jim’s work has been displayed throughout Montana, and has work on display at
the Montana House in Apgar, and in Helena at the Upper Missouri Artist’s Gallery.
5b - Jo Lee Hawkins
Jo Lee Hawkins has been an art dabbler since high school and an art major at Western and MSU. Enjoys
watercolor, pen and ink , and is a member of the Big Sky Scribes calligrapher’s guild. Jo’s paternal grandmother
was a Ukrainian from the old country that made Ukrainian eggs for her family for years. These eggs were dyed
with regular Easter egg dye, on hard-boiled eggs that the families ate every Easter. Jo has now taken up the family
tradition & traditional art form.
6 - Paul Pacini
A native Montanan, Paul Pacini was born in Great Falls, and is married to Becky Piske with two married sons who
live in the Seattle area. He retired from the Helena Public School System in 2004. Working in his dark room, he
now focuses on his black and white film-based photography and hand coloring of selected prints using lithographic
ink. He also enjoys backpacking, hiking, gardening and travel to Italy.
7 - Chip Clawson - Sunday
Chip Clawson is a ceramic artist making public art and sculpture from his studio in Helena, MT. His public art
installations include “All Women Are Role Models” at the Montana Women’s Prison and “Southern Lights Façade
in Billings, Montana; “Bray Odyssey Arch” at the Archie Bray Foundation for the ceramic Arts and “All of the Above
None of the Above”- a series of benches in Pioneer Park, Helena, MT. He worked at the Archie Bray Foundation for
the Ceramic Arts, 1977 - 2005 as the Clay Business Manager.
8 - Sandy Shull
Sandy Shull designs and makes glass beads with a propane torch and then creates jewelry with those one-of-a-kind
beads. A native Montanan who has been around art most of her life, she's primarily been on the admirer and
manager side of the art world until recently, when she discovered the art of lampwork glass and has been hooked
on it ever since. She is currently co-owner of Birds and Beasleys.
9 - Upper Missouri Artists Gallery (also a ticket outlet)
Upper Missouri Artists Gallery (UMA) has been in business 15 years, with two of the founding members still active
in the business. UMA is a joint venture gallery with 7 active members whose works include paintings in
watercolor, acrylic, oils and pastel; bronzes; sculpted glass and metal creations; and limited edition photography.
All new members are juried in by current membership. Two alumni have pieces on display; fine furniture and small
items in a variety of woods; and ceramics.
10 - Holter Museum
(also a ticket outlet)
The Holter Museum of Art opened in 1987 as the place to experience contemporary art in central Montana, and
has grown dramatically since. A $2,000,000 capital campaign completed in 2002 added 6,500 square feet to create
a dynamic 17,000 square foot facility and added to the museum’s endowment. Offering over 25 varied exhibits
each year, art education to all ages, international artist residencies, lectures, receptions and more, the Holter has
become the premier cultural center for the region.
10a –Printmaking Demonstration - Saturday
10b – Carol Montgomery - Sunday
Carol Montgomery earned her BFA in painting at the University of Montana at Missoula, and her MFA in
printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute. Her work was featured in the May 2012 exhibition of the Royal
Society of Printmakers, CSP exchange, London, England.
10c – Vivian Hayes - Sunday
Vivian Hayes studied watercolor painting under Jesse Wilbur and was an art major at Georgia State University in
Atlanta. She also studied painting under Doug Turman, Dale Livezey, and Linda McCray. In addition, she
participated in several printmaking workshops at the Holter Museum and joined and worked with the Helena
Printmakers Guild at the Holter Museum as well. Since 2003, she has created pottery at the Archie Bray
Foundation.
11 - Tim Holmes
12 - Steve Palmer
13 - Kathryn Fehlig- Sunday
14 - Jim Stevens (also a ticket outlet)
Outisde Helena – to the East
15 - C’eM Studio:
15a - Marcy Bergmann
15b - Cindy Rose
Outside Helena – to the South
16 - Page Kelly Piccolo (Montana City)
17 - Lisa Ernst (Jefferson City) - Sunday
18 - Jennifer Pryor (Boulder)
19 - Sunshine Health Mine Artisan Studio & Gift Gallery: (Boulder)
19a - Shellie Lee
19b – Jacque Duxbury - Saturday
19c - Chloe Young - Saturday
19d - Carol Christensen - Sunday
19e - Eli Smith – Sunday