In our Gallery:
Swell: Work by Chris Alveshere
Opening reception Friday, June 3, 5-8pm
Exhibition runs June 3-25, 2022
We open our summer exhibition series with Swell: Work by Chris Alveshere. This solo exhibit will feature a playful and engaging display of colorful functional porcelain works.
Chris Alveshere’s pots are an investigation of items he finds curious, feels sentimental towards, or objects he finds humor in. This investigation could come from the object’s surface, form, or most often from intriguing proportions or scale. Inflated swells, large knobs, and enamel-like sheens from sanded surfaces and glazes create exaggerated, vibrant pieces.
Before arriving in Fall 2020 as a long-term resident artist at The Clay Studio of Missoula, Chris received his Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Prior to his graduate studies, Chris spent several years as an arts educator in Minnesota and North Dakota. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education & Bachelor of Arts in Ceramics from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
From June-August, we will be featuring solo exhibitions by long term residents that are completing their residencies at The Clay Studio of Missoula at the end of the summer.
Gallery events are free and open to the public.
New Faces around the Studio!
Annaliese Cole-Weiss
University of Montana Summer Resident
Annaliese received their Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University in 2020, and will be continuing as Post-Baccalaureate student at the University of Montana for a second year this Fall. Having grown up moving many times, they consider many places to be home, including the mountains of Western North Carolina, the swamps of Southern Louisiana, the California Central Valley, and the Colorado Rockies.
Annaliese's work examines memory, dimensionality and ideas of the in-between, and they are greatly influenced by images of the home and themes of domesticity. They harness the transitional space between real and imagined in order to invite conversations around our relationships with ourselves and the spaces we hold closest.
Kelli Sinner June Short Term Community Resident Kelli Sinner is an artist and educator who works with ceramics and paper, and will be joining us for a short term residency during the month of June. She has participated in artist residencies at Red Lodge Clay Center in Red Lodge, MT, Zentrum fur Keramik in Berlin, Germany, Penland Winter and Letterpress Residencies at Penland School of Craft in Penland, North Carolina. Originally from Utah, Kelli received her BFA from Utah State University and her MFA from Penn State University. She was a Professor of Art at Minnesota State University Moorhead from 2005-2021 where she taught ceramics, papermaking, exhibitions, and foundation design. Before moving to Minnesota, Kelli worked in New York City where she taught ceramics at Marymount College Manhattan, the 92nd Street Y, and the Educational Alliance. Kelli recently moved to Missoula and is the new Residency Coordinator at OpenAir. We are excited she will continue to be a part of the local community after her residency!
Maeve Miley Summer Leadership Fellow Intern Maeve Miley is a student at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota and will be at The Clay Studio of Missoula interning this summer through the Summer Leadership Fellows Program. This program provides funding for students to complete a full-time position/work for a non-profit for a ten week period in the summer. Maeve always had an interest in art and is looking forward to working with the Clay Studio to learn about non-profit studio and gallery functions, help to build educational and outreach programming, and integrate herself in our community throughout the summer. In her free time you can find her hiking, skiing, and spending time with friends and family.
Morasha Winokur & Fisher Ream Helping Us Out at the Reception Desk! Anyone who has been at the studio recently may have met some of our short term helpers we've had at the gallery desk weekday afternoons! Morasha Winokur is currently a Post-Baccalaureate student at the University of Montana and will be helping out part time throughout the summer. Fisher Ream is currently the AmeriCorps VISTA for the State of Montana Arboretum at The University of Montana, and will also be helping out at the front desk short term while we have staff absences.
Adult Classes
Session 1 Classes running June 12-July 18 currently open for enrollment Session 2 Classes starting July 24 will be announced & open for enrollment at noon on Thursday, June 9 ADULT SESSION 1 CLASSES WITH AVAILABLE SPOTS: Daytime Open Instructed - Multi-Level Monday, 2-5pm/Five class meetings – June 13-July 18 (no class 7/4) Instructor: Chris Alveshere, $170 for members / $180 for non-members OR Thursday, 2-5pm/Five class meetings – June 16-July 14 Instructor: Austin Coudriet, $170 for members / $180 for non-members Intermediate Pottery on the Wheel Tuesday, 6-9pm / Five class meetings – June 14-July 12 Instructor: Grayson Fair, $170 for members / $180 for non-members Creating and Firing Work for the Soda Kiln Wednesdays, 6-9pm / Five class meetings – June 15-July 13 Instructor: Grayson Fair, $195 for members / $205 for non-members Enroll Now Online!!! Visit our Adult Class Page to view all upcoming classes & register Session 1 classes not listed above are currently full Please email us to be placed on the waitlist for any full class Questions/Prefer to enroll over the phone? We would be happy to assist- weekdays 12-5pm. Give us a ring at 406-543-0509
JUNE ONE DAY WORKSHOPS We still have some spots left in all of our June workshop offerings! June Family Workshop: Mini Garden Planters! THIS WEEKEND!!! Sunday, June 5, 10AM - 1PM. $25 per student Fun for all ages. Minimum of 2 students per group Pottery Date Nights Friday June 10, 6-8PM or Friday June 24. 6-8PM. each date night - $80 PER COUPLE Community Workshop: Fabulous Fruit Bowls For Adults (Ages 16+) Sunday, June 12, 10am-1pm. $35 per Person Beginning Pottery Wheel Throwing Basics Workshop Friday, June 17, 6-8pm. $40 per student
SUMMER CAMPS! For ages 5 & up Do you have a kiddo that is eager to get their hands in clay? We still have some space in several of our camps being offered this summer! Visit our Youth & Family Program page to learn more and register:
Empty Bowls, Full Souls We are still accepting handmade bowl donations for The Missoula Food Bank fundraiser in late June, and have a community glazing day on June 8!