Rudy Autio's life celebrated

Rudy Autio was remembered as a pioneer in the field of ceramic art, a compassionate friend, generous mentor and, in the words of his friend, Helenan John Board, "gentle, humble, a salt of the earth kind of guy."

Under a perfectly rendered Montana sky, friends, family and several greats of the ceramic arts world gathered Sunday night to remember and celebrate the life of Autio, who died July 20.

Following last week's memorial in Missoula, the gathering at the Bray was a casual affair, where those who loved Autio exchanged many hugs, heartfelt words, and not a few humorous stories about the late artist.

Along with Pete Voulkos, Autio was a founding resident artist of the Bray and was instrumental in establishing its reputation as a center for ceramic art. A well-loved professor at the University of Montana in Missoula for 28 years, Autio was internationally renowned for his own work -- masterfully painted vessels and free flowing figurative sculpture.

"He was one of the original American clay heroes," said Rodney Mott, a friend and fellow artist who made the drive from Sacramento, Calif., to attend the memorial, along with artist Gery Erskin of Aspen, Colo.

Mott and Erskin said that even though it was Autio's work they studied in school, they found him to be kind and completely devoid of ego.

"He was an artist by example," Erskin said.

Helena artist Richard Notkin began the evening's remarks by noting that the Archie Bray Foundation was a place that was "quite dear to Rudy" and that his involvement with the center brought many artists to Montana.

"Rudy knew that to make art was never easy; that there was always more to learn," said Notkin.

"We will all miss Rudy greatly, but we also rejoice that he was in our lives," Notkin later added. "This is a gift that will live forever."

Ceramic artist Don Reitz described Autio as an artist who always pushed the boundaries and inspired his students to do the same.

"He encouraged you to do your own way," said Reitz, who named Autio and Voulkos as two people who turned the art world upside-down.

"These guys were taking clay and making it live," Reitz said. "I owe Rudy," he added. "We all do."

Like Notkin and several others, Board recalled the welcoming atmosphere of the Autio household and the generosity of Rudy and his wife, Lela, who is also an artist.

"Rudy not only shaped and molded clay; he shaped and molded people," Board said. "We knew him to be great and good and kind and gentle and humble."

Several speakers noted Autio's sense of humor, like former Archie Bray Foundation resident director Josh DeWeese, who shared that for many years, Autio and his father, the late artist Bob DeWeese, exchanged letters as Lewis and Clark.

"The cursive in these letters from Rudy was incredible," said DeWeese, who also told about a time that Autio cast a mold of Voulkos' head in chocolate.

DeWeese highlighted Autio's commitment to the Bray, saying, "It kept going because people like Rudy wanted to keep it going."

Autio's wife, Lela, also mentioned her late husband's humorous side -- and revealed a little of her own.

"He spent the last two years of his life wasting his time drawing pictures of Dick Cheney," she said, eliciting hearty laughter from the crowd.

It was the fact that he could draw, said Lela, that distinguished Autio as an artist. And according to her, he's still at it.

Just before he died, Lela said that she bent over her husband and told him, "I'll be there soon."

"OK," Autio responded. "I'll draw some clouds and we'll dance on 'em."