First Fire Invited Artists Exhibition features the work of Anita Fields, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Raven Halfmoon, and Tara McCoy.

On view in the Pottery Gallery and open Sales Gallery hours, Tues-Fri, 11 am-5 pm and Sat, 12-4 pm, swing by the Bray to see the incredible work of the First Fire intensive studio program artists.

Learn more about each of the artists:
Anita Fields (Osage), creates works of clay & textile that reflect the worldview of her Native Osage culture. Her practice explores the complexities of cultural influences & the intersections of balance & chaos found within our lives. The early Osage notions of duality, such as earth and sky, male and female, are represented in her work. (View Anita’s full bio at anitafieldsart.com)

Jared Tso (Dine) started his journey with clay possessing a natural curiosity sparked by vessels made by his late grandmother Faye Tso. While pursuing an electrical engineering degree, childhood memories started to play a larger role in his growing practice. After working as an Engineer, Jared pursued his MFA at the University of New Mexico, & has since pursued art full time. (View Jared’s full bio at jaredtso.com)

Tara McCoy (Cherokee)started making crafts at 12 years old. In high school, Tara took arts & crafts classes with Alyne Stamper & has since perfected her skills & techniques. Tara has won numerous awards at the Cherokee Fall Festival, Oklahoma Art Shows, and at SWAIA in Santa Fe. Tara has taught other artists how to work with different mediums as well as coming up with new creations at her home in the Birdtown community. (learn more about Tara here)

Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan/ Hidatsa/ Arikara/ Lakota) creates monumental installations, sculpture & performance to communicate urgent stories about 21st Century Indigeneity, Luger incorporates ceramics, steel, fiber, video & repurposed materials to activate speculative fiction, engage land-based actions of repair and practice empathetic response through social collaboration. (View Cannupa’s full bio at cannupahanska.com)

Raven Halfmoon (Caddo) attended the University of Arkansas where she earned a double Bachelor’s Degree in ceramics/painting & cultural anthropology. Her work has been featured in multiple exhibitions throughout the U.S. as well as internationally. Halfmoon is represented by Kouri+Corrao Gallery in Santa Fe, NM & Ross+Kramer Gallery in New York, NY. (View Raven’s full at ravenhalfmoon.com)

About the First Fire Site:
A new pit firing site at the Bray will be a test site for Indignous ceramic technologies. Cannupa Hanska Luger has extensive experience building earth lodges as well as very large sculptural projects and Raven Halfmoon has vast knowledge of large-scale building techniques and understands the needs of the community in the larger Helena area. Both Luger and Halfmoon will draw from knowledge of ancestral architecture to collaborate on the physical design, working with fabricators, engineers, architects, community and with The Bray’s on-site staff to construct a safe, honorable, and useful space. 

Luger and Halfmoon will work with The Bray’s Special Projects Manager and Education Manager to develop the blueprint for future programming and to implement protocols around the site’s use.