Archie Bray Summer 2013

Ask almost anyone who's ever been a resident at the Archie Bray, and they'll tell you about the amazing summers. Having been a resident in 2007 and 2011, I was thrilled when Linda was offered a summer position this year—I was happy she'd get to share in this unique and wonderful experience—but I was also happy that I'd get to spend a month there too! Here are some images to give you a picture of what a summer at the Bray is like:

At it's heart, the Bray is about work... stunning, surprising, ambitious ceramics. 

Linda made some fantastic things, and it was nice just to sit back at a distance and have the time to watch her work. 

The Bray's a  place where people come together around making ceramics, and sometimes around the kiln. This is the first firing of the anagama.

The facilities are world-class, and most residents take advantage of the opportunity to use some phenomenal equipment.

John Zimmerman giving the Blaauw a try.

Linda stuck to the electrics.

There's always someone in a frenzy of creation. Here's Peter Johnson, two spray guns blazing. 

Some days, the frenzy is a bit more destructive. Here's Alanna DeRocchi at the shard pile, blasting away with a hammer!

Sometimes the making is a bit more delicate. This is one of Ben Carter's in process. You might know him from his podcast, "Tales of a Red Clay Rambler."

The sunsets from the porch of the summer studio stop everyone in their tracks.

Fishing? Yes, that happens a lot too.

Posing for the annual resident's photo. Every year is a different group of 20. Ten long-terms and 10 summer residents.

Elsa Sahal was among this year's group. These are her feet. I love them.

Here's a shot of Elsa's studio.

I even got my hands dirty a bit, gold lustering  some bricks that were given out as gifts to retiring board members.

Shiny! 

One of the great things about being at the Bray are the trades! Here's a Steve Lee tea bowl we acquired. It was just one among many new pieces we brought home this summer, 

These are Jeremy Briddell's. Fantastic. 

Unfortunately, Jeremy spent most of his summer trying to get this truck fixed. When he left the Bray, it was still sitting there.

Here's Linda looking at one of Giselle Hicks' pieces that was about to go into the kiln. 

Simply getting to see work like this in-process is one of the great joys of spending time there.

Here's a detail of one of Peter Johnson's massive pieces.

Community mindedness is part of the spirit of the experience, and everyone is responsible to chip in somehow. Obviously, Linda loved her chore.

More fishing? Yes, please.

Have I mentioned the meals? What happens when you get 20 or more artists together? Well, they cook, and eat, and enjoy many meals together. Some of the best meals I've had have been at the Bray. 

This year, it was Heesoo Lee that kept us all very, very well fed.

There isn't much to eat in Helena itself. Most meals eaten outside of the Bray were consumed here, at The Suds Hut. 

Summer rains can be a welcome relief when they arrive. Storms seem to come and go in minutes, quickly cleansing the landscape before the sun comes right out again.

It always seems as if there are scores of deer roaming the grounds, but if you look a bit closer you'll find other things too. If you're Linda, you'll find mice.

And you'll make them your friend.

There are a lot of great artists working in Helena that aren't residents, but are very much part of Bray life. Richard Notkin lives just up the road.

This is Richard's mini ram press. It was so cute I had to take a picture.

Above all, the Bray is simply a good place to make work among friends.

Linda's breakthrough this summer were these shrub-like forms. They're so good they make me jealous. 

And always there are new people arriving at the Bray. Just as we were leaving, Joanna Powell was getting settled into the studio for her long-term residency. 

Packing up and heading home.