Open to all ages | Free
Join us for the Butte, MT Arts Conference, featuring free, hands-on presentations with artists-in-residence Olivia Berkey, Tess Fahlgren, Aubrey Edwards, and Richard Opper. This special day celebrates the residency of these four artists in Butte over the past month. Their work has been shaped by collaborations with our residency site partners: Hungry Hill Ceramics Center, the Clark Chateau, and the Butte Silver-Bow Archives Museum.
Each artist will lead an individual session to share insights into their creative process and inspirations, along with hands-on activities. Attendees are welcome to join individual sessions or participate in the full conference.
Additional highlights:
Opportunities to meet and interact with the artists
Snacks and beverages provided
Time to explore and engage with the creative work
The Required Registration Link is here.
Conference Schedule
10:15 PM – A Beauty of Its Own
Led by Artist-in-Residence, Richard Opper
A former scientist and environmental administrator, Opper now turns to painting to interpret Butte’s beauty, complexity, and history — capturing the city through both an analytical and artistic lens.
11:00 AM – Signs of Solidarity: A Community Print Lab
Led by Artist-in-Residence, Aubrey Edwards
Explore the history of labor organizing in Butte through art. Participants will create their own solidarity signs using collage and stencil techniques, contributing one to a collective wall of solidarity and taking another home.
12:00–1:00 PM – Lunch Break
Light fare provided.
1:15 AM – Research, Remember, Respond: The Braided Nonfiction Essay
Led by Artist-in-Residence, Tess Fahlgren
Discover the power of weaving personal narrative with research. Tess will share a short reading and lead participants in a guided writing exercise.
2:00 PM – Extracting Meaning: Digging as Sculptural and Communal Practices
Led by Artist-in-Residence, Olivia Berkey
Olivia will discuss how the act of digging is central to her process, and the audience will be treated to a demonstration.