"Spin a good yarn"

Celebrating the Art of Visiting Ceramic Artist
Crista Ann Ames
October 9th - November 6th

The Bank Left Gallery featured artist for October is ceramic artist Crista Ann Ames. Crista's whimsical, sculptural & colorful art is inspired by nature and everyday objects. The natural organic forms of her ceramics are never isolated from the beauty of life and the connection with form and function. Her body of work is based on storytelling.

Opening reception with the artist is October 9th from 1:00 - 5:00pm. Following the reception The Bank Left Bistro will feature an artist themed dinner from 5:00 - 8:00pm inspired by the unconventional world-renowned potter, Beatrice Wood. Wood has been an inspiration for Crista's new storytelling body of work.

Artist reception is free to the public
Artist themed dinner is $22.50 per person
For more information call (509) 878-8425

"Storytelling has shaped humans and society since before recorded history. Passed from one generation to the next, stories have been used to define society's morals and prejudices. Stories define our humanity."

"My work is the depiction of single moments in stories. I create connections with viewers by constructing narrative scenes containing figures. I intend to initiate a story that will unfold and continue in the mind of the viewer."

~ Crista Ann Ames

Born in Washington State, Crista Ann attended Washington State University where she obtained her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Ceramics with a minor in Art History. After receiving her BFA, Crista attended Utah State University for Post Baccalaureate studies in Ceramics where she was also a studio assistant. While in Utah, Crista was an ArtsBridge Scholar for the university and made a collaborative tile wall installation with a local 3rd grade class. She also was a ceramics studio assistant and curatorial assistant for the Clay West Juried Exhibition.

Crista has been exhibiting nationally and was recently published in Lark Books "500 Vases". She has recently been an assistant for ceramic artists Chris Antemann and Richard Notkin. This summer, she was an artist in Residence at A.I.R. Vallauris in France and this January her travels will take her to Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center in Denmark where she will be an assistant for the center and part of an emerging artist program called Project Network. After working for the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Art last summer, Crista decided to move to Helena Montana and become part of this thriving ceramics community.