Upcoming and current shows
Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT
Running with Scissors, Current
Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
You are not a Snowflake, Exit Show, August 2020
Rapscallion Gallery, Bozeman, MT
Pop-surealism Group Show, August 2020
Running with Scissors, Current
Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
You are not a Snowflake, Exit Show, August 2020
Rapscallion Gallery, Bozeman, MT
Pop-surealism Group Show, August 2020
Biographical Information
Elisha was born in Butte, Montana, however shortly after, her family moved to Missoula, Montana. She attended Sentinel High School and was encourage to develop her skills in Drawing and Photography.
Elisha received her BFA in Ceramics from the University of Montana in May of 2015. In 2016, she continued her education in ceramics by completing a short term residency in Red Lodge MT, at Red Lodge Clay Center, a studio assistantship at the Arrowmount School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee, and a short-term residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula. She is currently teaching ceramics in her own business, Mud Bunneh Ceramics, and recently started teaching after-school programs with elementary and middle-school age kids with Missoula Public Schools, the Missoula Art Museum, and the Clay Studio of Missoula.
Elisha is currently in a long term residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula.
Elisha received her BFA in Ceramics from the University of Montana in May of 2015. In 2016, she continued her education in ceramics by completing a short term residency in Red Lodge MT, at Red Lodge Clay Center, a studio assistantship at the Arrowmount School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee, and a short-term residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula. She is currently teaching ceramics in her own business, Mud Bunneh Ceramics, and recently started teaching after-school programs with elementary and middle-school age kids with Missoula Public Schools, the Missoula Art Museum, and the Clay Studio of Missoula.
Elisha is currently in a long term residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula.
Artist Statement
The work that I am most passionate about focuses on depictions of children and animals. In this work, I address the social issues of child abuse by juxtaposing the quiet brutality of abuse against the perceived, inherent innocence of children. The familiarity of the narrative context challenges the viewer, creating an unsettling relationship between the audience and the figures. The space between the viewer and figure directly challenges the silence about such issues and hopefully, calls attention to the myriad of societal issues that we tend not to acknowledge in our daily lives.
Every art work, in one way or another, is my expression of negotiating my own history with the world. My art is a subjective dance between the fissures of expectation and experience. My articulations, while pointed toward something that is not collectively experienced, strives to seek out moments when & where we can find opportunities to communicate. I attempt to convey moments where and when personal experience endeavors to participate in forming our interpretations of the world.
Every art work, in one way or another, is my expression of negotiating my own history with the world. My art is a subjective dance between the fissures of expectation and experience. My articulations, while pointed toward something that is not collectively experienced, strives to seek out moments when & where we can find opportunities to communicate. I attempt to convey moments where and when personal experience endeavors to participate in forming our interpretations of the world.
Artist Statement for Apple Moon
I've always been fascinated by the elements of play, from the possibilities of innocuous objects to take on infinite meanings, like a stick becoming a scepter, a pot and pan to become elements of a uniform, a stuffed animal to assume the position of a guardian, or a scoop of mud to morph into an ice cream cone. At the same time, each object - each artifact - carries with it a multitude of inferences. Who plays with sticks? What's the childhood like for the girl whose best friend is a soiled and dilapidated doll? When the boy is done playing with the pots and pans, are they washed, put away, or simply left on the floor or counter? Every object to a child is rich with possibilities but also carries with it a history of meaning. This bear calmed me as my parents were fighting. I used this stick to slay the men in my life who abused me. I cooked his remains in the pots and pans that were left on the counter. Each feeling, every emotion -- fulfillment, neglect, hope, failure, despair, joy -- are embedded in particular objects. Innocence quickly gives way to a dark set of memories as the meanings and history of each object are manipulated and played out in narratives, both real and imagined, where chance and fate take hold.
Figurative work is an illusion; it situates itself as something static, as a story caught in the middle of something happening. Creating movement is a dilemma for both the artist and the observer. Stories are never static and always open to interpretation. Objects develop new meanings: the more stories are encountered, the more they change, the more we put upon them. Like figures, children, unfortunately, are placed in a static place of innocence. We view them with longing and revisionist hope that somehow they'll succeed in spite of their circumstances. For no fault of their own, children are saddled with our collective hope for not only a better future but also with a better past.
Figurative work is an illusion; it situates itself as something static, as a story caught in the middle of something happening. Creating movement is a dilemma for both the artist and the observer. Stories are never static and always open to interpretation. Objects develop new meanings: the more stories are encountered, the more they change, the more we put upon them. Like figures, children, unfortunately, are placed in a static place of innocence. We view them with longing and revisionist hope that somehow they'll succeed in spite of their circumstances. For no fault of their own, children are saddled with our collective hope for not only a better future but also with a better past.
Shows and Exhibitions
Education
2015 Bachelor's of Fine Arts, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
2012 Associates Degree, Surgical Technology, College of Technology, University of Montana
Experience/Residencies
Current Long term resident, Clay Studio of Missoula
Current Flagship Art teacher
Missoula Art Museum Youth Art Teacher
Mud Bunneh Ceramics Youth Instructor
2017 Visiting artist, University of Montana
2017 Short term resident at the Clay Studio of Missoula
2017 Art teacher, Lewis and Clark Elementary, EAST program
2016 Studio Assistant, Arrowmount
2016 Short-term Residency, January 15-March 15, Red Lodge Clay Center
2015-2017 Pre-School Art Teacher
2014 Sculpture Lab Monitor, University of Montana
2013 Iron Pour
2012/13 Wood Fire Kiln
Professional Memberships/Organizational Affiliations
2017- Current Clay Studio of Missoula, Member, Missoula, MT
2015- Current Von Common Artist Collective, Missoula, MT
2014-2015 NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts)
2013-15 UMECA (University of Montana Emerging Ceramic Artists), Missoula, MT
2012-15 Total Fest Committee Member, Missoula, MT
2012-2015 Le Kickball Commissioner, Missoula, MT
Solo/2-3 person Exhibitions
2018 daily interactions, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, MT
2018 Resident Exhibition, Clay Studio of Missoula, MT
2018 Ceramics Invitational, Radius Gallery, Missoula MT
2018 A Glimpse of Clarity, E3 Gallery, Missoula, MT
2017 My Other Tiger, Four person group show, Zootown Brew
2017 Solo Exhibition, Forget me not, University Center Gallery
2017 "Memory Breaks Us, Memory Makes Us" Exhibition with Adelaide Every, E3 Gallery
2015 Total Fest, Stage Construction Blow Out, Missoula, MT
2015 Elisha Harteis, First Friday Event, Missoula, MT, Blaque Owl
2014 Total Fest, Stage Construction Blow Out, Missoula, MT
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017 Emerging, Submerging, Dana Gallery
2017 Vegas Clay Arts, What goes bump in the night, Las Vegas, NV
2017 Clark Chateau, Uncommon VonCommon, Butte, MT
2017 E3 Gallery, Uncommon VonCommon, Missoula, MT
2017 VonCommon Group Show, Systems and Solutions, Missoula, MT
2016 E3 Gallery, White group exhibit, Missoula, MT
2016 E3 Convergence Gallery, Group Exhibition, Reflections, Missoula, MT
2016 VonCommon Group Show, Butte, MT
2016 VonCommon, Horror Prom, Missoula, MT
2015 Youth Homes Inc., Annual Fundraiser, Live Auction, Missoula, MT
2015 ZACC, Monster Show, Missoula, MT
2015 Von Common, 911 show, Missoula, MT
2015 BFA Show, University Gallery, Missoula, MT
2015 The Helmet Project, Fundraiser for Missoula Bicycle Works
2013 ZACC, Mini Show and Benefit, Missoula, MT, Juried by Edgar Smith
2013 Von Common, Ridiculous Show, Missoula, MT
2013 Von Common, Love Me, Love Me Not Show, Missoula, MT
2012 Von Common, The Super Show, Missoula, MT
Permanent Collections
2014 Missoula Museum of Arts and Culture purchased No More Corners for their permanent collection
Awards/Honors/Grants
Best in Show, E3 Convergence Gallery, Reflections Group Show 2016
Strategic Investment Grant, March 2016
Bonhomme Scholarship, U of MT, 2014/15
U of MT Art Fund Scholarship, 2013/14, 2014/15
Holiday show and Sale, U of MT, Butterfly Herbs Award, 2012
Holiday show and Sale, U of MT, Upcycle Award, 2013
Dean List 2013/14, 2014/15
Juried Exhibitions
2015 University of Montana, Montana State University, Faculty and Student Exhibition, Archie Bray, Jurried by Esther Shimazu
2014 University of Montana Ceramic Holiday Show, Jurried by Chris Dufala
2014 20th Student Annual Show, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, Mt, Jurried by Vanessa German
2014 Blue Show, 3rd Annual Show, University Center Gallery, Missoula, MT Juried by Andy Smetanka
2013 19th Student Annual Show, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, MT Juried by Jay Schmidt
2013 University of Montana Ceramic Holiday Show and Sale, Juried by Shalene Valenzuela
2012 University of Montana Ceramic Holiday Show and Sale, Juried by Richard Notkin
2012 18th Student Annual Show, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, MT Juried by Frank Lewis
2012 End of the World Show, 2nd Annual Show, University Center Gallery, Missoula, MT Juried by Courtney Blazon
Upcoming Shows
VonCommon Group Show, E3 Convergence Gallery, July 2nd-July 30th, 2017
VonCommon Group Show, Butte, MT, September 1st, 2017
Four Person Show, First Friday Show, Zootown Brew, October 6th, 2017
Solo Show, E3 Gallery, April 2018
Professional Accomplishments
Missoulian, Cory Walsh, Art as a Safe Place to confront abuse, January 11th, 2017
Independent, Erika Fredrickson, “I Scream,” May 7th, 2015
Missoulian, Kurt Wilson, 040615 Helmet Project2, April 3rd, 2015
Independent, Kate Whittle, “First Friday Events,” February 6th, 2015
Missoulian, Cory Walsh, “Total Fest delivered on promise of diverse lineup”, August 22, 2014
Missoulian, Cory Walsh, “Von Common delves into love and its opposite with group show”, February 01, 2013
2015 Bachelor's of Fine Arts, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
2012 Associates Degree, Surgical Technology, College of Technology, University of Montana
Experience/Residencies
Current Long term resident, Clay Studio of Missoula
Current Flagship Art teacher
Missoula Art Museum Youth Art Teacher
Mud Bunneh Ceramics Youth Instructor
2017 Visiting artist, University of Montana
2017 Short term resident at the Clay Studio of Missoula
2017 Art teacher, Lewis and Clark Elementary, EAST program
2016 Studio Assistant, Arrowmount
2016 Short-term Residency, January 15-March 15, Red Lodge Clay Center
2015-2017 Pre-School Art Teacher
2014 Sculpture Lab Monitor, University of Montana
2013 Iron Pour
2012/13 Wood Fire Kiln
Professional Memberships/Organizational Affiliations
2017- Current Clay Studio of Missoula, Member, Missoula, MT
2015- Current Von Common Artist Collective, Missoula, MT
2014-2015 NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts)
2013-15 UMECA (University of Montana Emerging Ceramic Artists), Missoula, MT
2012-15 Total Fest Committee Member, Missoula, MT
2012-2015 Le Kickball Commissioner, Missoula, MT
Solo/2-3 person Exhibitions
2018 daily interactions, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, MT
2018 Resident Exhibition, Clay Studio of Missoula, MT
2018 Ceramics Invitational, Radius Gallery, Missoula MT
2018 A Glimpse of Clarity, E3 Gallery, Missoula, MT
2017 My Other Tiger, Four person group show, Zootown Brew
2017 Solo Exhibition, Forget me not, University Center Gallery
2017 "Memory Breaks Us, Memory Makes Us" Exhibition with Adelaide Every, E3 Gallery
2015 Total Fest, Stage Construction Blow Out, Missoula, MT
2015 Elisha Harteis, First Friday Event, Missoula, MT, Blaque Owl
2014 Total Fest, Stage Construction Blow Out, Missoula, MT
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017 Emerging, Submerging, Dana Gallery
2017 Vegas Clay Arts, What goes bump in the night, Las Vegas, NV
2017 Clark Chateau, Uncommon VonCommon, Butte, MT
2017 E3 Gallery, Uncommon VonCommon, Missoula, MT
2017 VonCommon Group Show, Systems and Solutions, Missoula, MT
2016 E3 Gallery, White group exhibit, Missoula, MT
2016 E3 Convergence Gallery, Group Exhibition, Reflections, Missoula, MT
2016 VonCommon Group Show, Butte, MT
2016 VonCommon, Horror Prom, Missoula, MT
2015 Youth Homes Inc., Annual Fundraiser, Live Auction, Missoula, MT
2015 ZACC, Monster Show, Missoula, MT
2015 Von Common, 911 show, Missoula, MT
2015 BFA Show, University Gallery, Missoula, MT
2015 The Helmet Project, Fundraiser for Missoula Bicycle Works
2013 ZACC, Mini Show and Benefit, Missoula, MT, Juried by Edgar Smith
2013 Von Common, Ridiculous Show, Missoula, MT
2013 Von Common, Love Me, Love Me Not Show, Missoula, MT
2012 Von Common, The Super Show, Missoula, MT
Permanent Collections
2014 Missoula Museum of Arts and Culture purchased No More Corners for their permanent collection
Awards/Honors/Grants
Best in Show, E3 Convergence Gallery, Reflections Group Show 2016
Strategic Investment Grant, March 2016
Bonhomme Scholarship, U of MT, 2014/15
U of MT Art Fund Scholarship, 2013/14, 2014/15
Holiday show and Sale, U of MT, Butterfly Herbs Award, 2012
Holiday show and Sale, U of MT, Upcycle Award, 2013
Dean List 2013/14, 2014/15
Juried Exhibitions
2015 University of Montana, Montana State University, Faculty and Student Exhibition, Archie Bray, Jurried by Esther Shimazu
2014 University of Montana Ceramic Holiday Show, Jurried by Chris Dufala
2014 20th Student Annual Show, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, Mt, Jurried by Vanessa German
2014 Blue Show, 3rd Annual Show, University Center Gallery, Missoula, MT Juried by Andy Smetanka
2013 19th Student Annual Show, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, MT Juried by Jay Schmidt
2013 University of Montana Ceramic Holiday Show and Sale, Juried by Shalene Valenzuela
2012 University of Montana Ceramic Holiday Show and Sale, Juried by Richard Notkin
2012 18th Student Annual Show, Gallery of Visual Arts, Missoula, MT Juried by Frank Lewis
2012 End of the World Show, 2nd Annual Show, University Center Gallery, Missoula, MT Juried by Courtney Blazon
Upcoming Shows
VonCommon Group Show, E3 Convergence Gallery, July 2nd-July 30th, 2017
VonCommon Group Show, Butte, MT, September 1st, 2017
Four Person Show, First Friday Show, Zootown Brew, October 6th, 2017
Solo Show, E3 Gallery, April 2018
Professional Accomplishments
Missoulian, Cory Walsh, Art as a Safe Place to confront abuse, January 11th, 2017
Independent, Erika Fredrickson, “I Scream,” May 7th, 2015
Missoulian, Kurt Wilson, 040615 Helmet Project2, April 3rd, 2015
Independent, Kate Whittle, “First Friday Events,” February 6th, 2015
Missoulian, Cory Walsh, “Total Fest delivered on promise of diverse lineup”, August 22, 2014
Missoulian, Cory Walsh, “Von Common delves into love and its opposite with group show”, February 01, 2013