Art Association annual show, Soup Kitchen fundraiser, set for Nov. 2-3

Havre Art Association is gearing up this year for its 49th annual Havre Art Association Show and Sale Saturday and Sunday Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, featuring a local artist and hosting a fundraising event for Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen.

"When I look back in history, they've had some of the top artists in the state come here," Art Association member Kris Martens said.

This year's featured artist is local artist Garrette Brough of Big Sky Bones, she said.

The association is inviting everyone to come in to see the work of Brough and other artwork at the show, including local pottery offered as a fundraiser for Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen.

Martens said Brough's work is truly unique.

"It's so different, this is the first time I've ever seen anybody do this kind of art," she said.

Brough was born and raised in Havre, graduating from Havre High School in 2010, a press release said. He later pursued a bachelor's degree in art, graduating from the University of Montana in 2017. His medium for art is skull carving, the release said. 

He is self-taught in the art form due to limited information available on it, and he found only a few resources on the internet and tips from other artists who also did skull carving, the release said.

He started skull carving in 2015, quickly becoming infatuated with the medium, and started Big Sky Bones in 2017, the release said. It added that Big Sky Bones is a business specializing in skull carving, in a variety of different styles and types of skulls, mostly on commission.

"There are so many different reasons that I've continued doing skull carving that it's impossible to name them all," Brough said in the release.

Martens said that the skull carvings are a great example of how art magnifies and connects people to reality, both physically and spiritually.

"Garrette's work is a startling blend of the basic harsh reality of life and death on the plains," Martens said in a press release, adding that his work is intricate ornate carvings in skulls. "They are beautiful, truly, they are beautiful."

She said the Art Association usually has a featured artist every year, with one or more of their members having an eye out for possible artists to contact. After they select an artist they contact them usually in the spring to check availability. She said these artists could come from all around, but what is exciting is that Brough is local to the area and the Art Association has the opportunity to shine light on local talent.

"Yes, I am a fan and am so glad to have the opportunity to see his work here, and really hope the community comes out to see his artwork and the artwork of our many talented local artists," she said.

The Art Association is also trying something different this year with the art show, having a fundraiser for Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen. 

Havre Art Association and Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen are partnering in a Cups for a Cause Fundraiser, in which handmade mugs will be sold at the annual fall art show.

Art Association member Steve Helmbrecht came up with the idea at the beginning of the year, as a way to attract new people to the art show as well as support a worthwhile cause, Martens said.

"The art show is well-attended every year, but it does seem to be the same people, so that was one of his ideas," she said.

The cups will have a variety of designs and style from Art Association members and will be for sale. They will sell for $25, with $10 going to the Art Association to fund the project and $15 going to the soup kitchen.

The soup kitchen is always looking for volunteers and if people are interested in volunteering they can call 265-4629 or contact it on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Feed-My-Sheep-Community-Soup-Kitchen-147393401972659 .

People who want more information on Havre Art Association can visit https://www.facebook.com/HavreArtAssociation . It costs $10 to join and the association meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Havre-Hill County Library.