Pair of Robert Harrison exhibitions illustrate artist's variation in style

Artist Robert Harrison's red-and-green-framed glasses are just a subtle hint that he enjoys contrasts.

In fact, his latest art works couldn't be more different and yet they are strikingly similar.

His installation, "The Architecture of Space: Montana Vernacular" fills the High Gallery at the Holter Museum of Art, soaring 20 feet into the air. The opening reception for the show is Friday night.

Less than two blocks away at Turman Larison Contemporary gallery, another Harrison show, "Little Houses," opened last Friday. It's a cluster of doll-sized, miniature houses constructed from decorated ceramic tile.

But first, a digression is in order.

Harrison's works are familiar to many Helenans -- the "Queen City Gateway," across from the Montana Club; the "Potters Shrine" and the "Aruina" arches, both on the grounds of the Archie Bray Foundation; and the arches at ExplorationWorks.

The roots of Harrison's works are his love of clay and ceramics -- a love he discovered as a child watching a ceramic artist turn a potter's wheel and create vessels as if by magic.

And, a visit to his studio west of Helena last week was a bit like stepping into a different sort of magical vessel -- a room giving glimpses of his prolific artistic career.

A native of Canada, Harrison was fascinated with clay, which brought him to the Archie Bray Foundation in the 1980s, just in time for the foundation's purchase of the adjoining brickyard.

"Most of us lusted after what was in the brick factory," he confessed. "It was like being a kid in a candy store."

"The Bray gave me a way to play and explore and access to all these materials. I started working on the "Potter's Shrine" there," an outdoor installation celebrating the ceramic arts.

"A lot of my work is about the arch," Harrison said. "It all goes back to the Bray and brick."

In one corner of his studio stands one of his human-scale arches, a form that he's turned into unique sculptural installations in Australia, China and Denmark.

Years ago on a trip to Italy, Harrison became fascinated with the work of Italian architect Andrea Palladio.

"Palladio was an inspiration. He was one of my heroes. All his architecture related to human size."

In addition to experimenting with the arch, Harrison began to play with materials.

"All my work is contrasts of one material to another, color and surface -- a dry texture next to a wet or liquid-like texture."

The other essential ingredient is the environment in which the piece stands.

"All my work is specific to an indoor or outdoor space. The space has to speak to me."

"The Architecture of Space: Montana Vernacular," was specifically designed for the Holter Museum's High Gallery.

"I fell in love with the High Gallery," Harrison said. "In the High Gallery, I wanted to explore the volume of the room. It's 1,800 square feet by 21 feet high. It's a big amount of space."

The major focus is a metal silo.

"The silo references a grain silo," he said, a shape that has fascinated him on his many trips across Montana. "These grain silos and grain elevators all attract me. I think of all of them as containers," which grows out of his undergraduate training as a potter.

"In graduate school, I was drawn to working in a larger scale. But the vessel infiltrated my work. The silo, I see as a vessel. In Montana it would contain grain or a crop, but in my definition it contains space. I've always been attracted to the architecture of space."

Harrison often incorporates brick, steel, stone or whatever material makes sense. Often these are recycled materials n left-over granite columns from the Capitol, or rolls of aluminum tubing from the cable industry.

Harrison's recent works contrast from the soaring to the diminutive.

Across the room from the arch lies "Little Houses," that was awaiting installation at Turman Larison.

Although known for his architectural installations, Harrison admitted "I like to work on small things."

These "little jewels" are more accessible to people who would like to own one of his works.

Constructed of brilliantly colored tiles, the houses are decorated with glazes and decals that have been fired in a kiln.

They emerge as colorful, four-sided containers bursting with life.

From one angle, the viewer may see two sides of a house that is a soft spring green and decorated with a design of a Chinese plum tree. A red-and-gold swirling fish swims across the black roof.

Ah, but then change your angle.

Its two other sides are a deep golden color decorated with an architectural sketch of a two-story home and a line drawing of a craftsman at work.

Each little house is its own collection of contrasts.

"I have to mix things up," said Harrison.

If you go

There will be an opening reception Friday, Feb. 27, at the Holter Museum of Art for new exhibits by Robert Harrison, Ian Van Coller, Michael Dixon, Connie Bergum , Cheri Thornton and Kurt Keller, as well as a gift collection of art from Gennie DeWeese and Freeman Butts.

The event is also an opportunity to view the museum's new energy-efficient lighting.

The gala event includes music, ballet, food, an opportunity to renew your membership and to meet the artists.

Member reception, 5:30 p.m.

Public reception, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For information, 442-6400 or visit

holtermuseum.org. The museum is located at 12 E. Lawrence.

Holter Museum of Art holding Annual Grand Reopening Party on Friday

The Holter Museum of Art holds its Annual Grand Reopening Party on Friday evening, Feb. 27, celebrating six exhibitions and the completion of a new, energy-efficient lighting system in the museum's older galleries.

The exhibits include:

"The Architecture of Space: Montana Vernacular," in the High Gallery. This installation of architectural sculpture by Robert Harrison evokes elements of the Montana landscape and includes a sound collage by local musician Bill Borneman. Both Harrison and Borneman will attend the reception. Borneman will play during the preview hour and into the public reception.

"Ian Van Coller: Interior Relations," in the Bair Gallery. Van Coller's large photographic portraits of South African domestic workers, taken in the homes where they work, explore the complexities of identity that all South Africans face post-Apartheid. Van Coller is assistant professor of photography at Montana State University in Bozeman and will attend.

"Old Friends: Recent Gifts to the Collection" in the Sherman Gallery is a selection from the recent gift of works by Gennie DeWeese (1921-2007) and Freeman Butts (1928-1998) from the families of these two legendary Montana artists. Brief remarks by the families are planned for 6:30 p.m.

"Michael Dixon: The Beautiful Struggle," in the Millikan Gallery. Michael Dixon's series of self-portraits examine his bi-racial identity and state of mind as he begins searching for his black father whom he has never met. Dixon is assistant professor of art at Albion College in Albion, Mich. He will be the museum's Cultural Crossroads artist-in-residence from March 9-20. Dixon will not attend the reception.

"Connie Bergum: Illustrations," in the Artworks/Nicholson Gallery. Helena watercolor painter and children's book illustrator, Bergum, shares work from three books. Bergum's luminous depictions have been the delight of readers of all ages. Bergum will attend.

"Cheri Thornton and Kurt Keller," in the Held Family Hallway Gallery. Ceramics and photography from two local favorites. Expect to see them both at the opening.

The Holter has partnered with Susan Bjerke of Bjerke Architects (who designed the 2002 museum expansion), Ron Bulkley of Bulkley Electric, and Jason DeCunzo, a Missoula lighting designer, to design and install a new lighting system for the older portion of the Holter-the Bair, Sherman, Artworks, and Held Hallway galleries and the museum store.

Funding for the lighting project comes from a $130,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust and funds from the museum's board of directors.

The Murdock grant also helped fund two other major projects, a new roof on the older portion of the facility and a state-of-the-art collection storage upgrade.