Main Gallery

Photographer of the American West

Historical western photographs by L.A. Huffman

May 1 - June 5, 2013

L.A. Huffman (1854-1931)

Having learned the craft of photography from his father, Laton Alton Huffman became the post photographer at Fort Keogh near Miles City, Montana, in 1879. With the Custer incident in 1876, this was a rapidly changing time in Montana's history. Tensions between early settlers and Native Americans were high. The demise of the great buffalo herds was near, clearing the way for large scale cattle ranching. The railroad arrived in Miles City in 1881, bringing about huge change to the area. The arrival of farmers with their plows and fences would permanently alter the landscape of eastern Montana. During all of this, Huffman was there taking photographs - landscapes, animals, early ranches, street scenes, and people doing their work. He photographed the beginning, heyday, and the end of the open range days.

He carried his cameras on horseback, and this mobility distinguished him from studio photographers, enabling him to capture authentic action photographs.

Huffman approached his work with the eye of an artist and the perspective of an historian. He left an unmatched visual record of early Montana.

Copyright © 2013 North Dakota Art Gallery Association. All rights reserved.

Lower Gallery

Ceramics by Stephanie Montgomery

May 1 - June 15, 2013

Artist Statement

In the summer of 2012, while perusing local shops and galleries in Cody, Wy., I came upon a beautiful collection of Raku pottery. I was blown away by the brilliant colors that this technique created and I craved to learn more about it. I quickly vowed to myself that I would learn this fascinating method. So, throughout my student teaching experience, I worked endlessly to gain knowledge, as well as create, my own Raku pottery. This current body of work includes wheel thrown pottery made over a course of five months. I kept my forms simple so I could keep the focus on the one of a kind color that I achieved through the Raku process. I love that I get to be so involved in the entire process of this technique and how no two pieces can ever be exactly alike. I am anxious to see how my raku skills will continue to grow as I begin the next stage of my life.

Artist Biography

Stephanie Montgomery is a Michigan native, currently living in New Town, ND, who loves being creative and spending time with family and friends. She dabbles in all mediums of art, but is strongest in painting, and design. Her most recent fascination however is creating Raku pottery. Montgomery first showcased her works of art in a senior art exhibit in 2009. Shortly after, she graduated with a BFA in Fine Art, and a BS in Communication Arts from Black Hills State University. After college, she and her husband moved to New Town to work in the school district, where Stephanie found a passion for education. Stephanie is currently going back to school at Minot State University to receive her degree in K-12 Art Education.