To get to the Archie Bray Foundation is settled in the foothills of artist town Helena, Montana and features many historic sites, fine ceramic art and more. At the main building visitors can pick up free maps and information for self-guided tours. Here are the items featured on the tour.
The Pottery
Right beside the main building is The Pottery. This area includes a giant kiln, workshops where visitors can learn pottery techniques and studios were artists in residence, such as potter Donna Flannery (pictured below), practice their craft. Artists in residency come from all over the world to spend three months to two years honing their craft here. Only ten artists at a time are chosen from hundreds of applicants.
The Fine Art Gallery
The gallery, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday thru Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, is on the other side of the main building. It displays works made specifically by Archie Bray artists such as YeoEun Kwak (his work, "Head to Egg", is pictured). Many of these works can be purchased by individuals or bought in a silent auction called the Brickyard Bash.
Outside Sculptures
As visitors walk south down the path they will come upon statues and sculptures hidden in the landscape, left by previous Archie Bray artists. On fence posts there are ceramic busts. In the bushes there are clay creatures such as a wolf. Further on, there is a two-story pyramid made from clay pipes.
By the pyramid is a ring sculpture made of bricks called the Potter’s Shrine. According to the Archie Bray Foundation, the Potter's Shrine was built in the late 1980's by resident artist Robert Harrison to pay homage to the artists of Archie Bray. Inside the ring, sculptures and artwork from artists of past and present are displayed.
The Potter's Shrine ring was created using classic bricklayer techniques as a homage to the fact that the Archie Bray Foundation was built on a brick making factory. Not too far away from the ring, visitors can see the remaining house-sized, glass lined beehive brick kilns. These kilns are over 100 years old and are listed on the Register of Historic Places. Only a few of these types of kilns still exist in the world.
Right beside the kilns is a factory where clay is manufactured and packaged for the artists of Archie Bray and local artists.
Directions to The Archie Bray Foundation
To get to the Archie Bray Foundation, visitors to Helena, Montana should follow these directions:
- Get on Highway 12 going north and take a right on Joslyn Street.
- Take a left on County Club Avenue.
- Drive one mile to 2915 Country Club Avenue on the left side of the road.
For more information on the Archie Bray Foundation visit their website or call (406) 443-3502.
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