Montana State University’s School of Art and the Helen E. Copeland Gallery invite the public to Confluence: an Exhibition of Montana Metalsmiths.  The exhibition opens September 19^th and will run through October 17^th.  A closing reception will be held October 17^th from 7:00-9:00 pm.

The collection demonstrates professional versatility and regionalism in custom, functional, sculptural and conceptual works being created under the Big Sky.  Elichai Fowler of Elichai Fine Jewelry of Livingston creates custom heirloom quality jewelry. Thomas McGuane, a Bozeman knife maker, specializes in one-of-kind Damascus steel knifes.  Diane Scalese of Big Sandy is a full time hand engraver specializing in western tack, jewelry, and gun engraving.  Eric Dewey is a Bozeman blacksmith whose work ranges from custom décor elements to one-off figurative and narrative sculpture. MSU alumnus Aaron Murphy is a metal fabricator and sculptor creating work that is inspired by mathematics and a need to understand the self and the environment of space.  Together these artists represent a portion of the many faceted career paths of contemporary metalsmiths who are inspired by their environment and sense of place.

The Helen E. Copeland Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9AM – 5PM (closed on weekends and holidays).   The gallery is located on the second floor of Haynes Hall on the MSU-Bozeman campus.   For more information, please call 994-4501.