Archie Bray Foundation | Lotz, Walker and Hrycun Workshop

2010 Workshops

Tightening Lines:
From the Studio to the River
Instructors: Tyler Lotz, Jason Walker and George Hrycun
May 24–27 , 2010

This workshop explores the unique potential of the species Homo Artipiscatus, more commonly known as the Artist Fly Fisher. Homo Artipiscatus is a keen observer and maker, exhibiting a fastidious level of craft, a creative imagination and a capacity to move beyond imitation toward innovation. Spending most of its day in the art studio and tying flies, members of the species commonly migrate stream side toward evening in search of hatching insects and rising trout.

Located at the intersection of ceramics and fly fishing, the Archie Bray Foundation offers a unique hands-on workshop for those interested in both ceramic art and fly fishing. Tyler Lotz, Jason Walker and George Hrycun will share their experiences in the studio and on the water, connecting these practices in unique and surprising ways. This four-day event will include lectures and demonstrations of both ceramic processes and fly tying/fly fishing. Participants will work with clay and underglazes, tie flies and develop fly casting skills.

In the evenings, participants can work in the ceramics studio or explore the bounty of trout streams around Helena. Stay an additional day to test your new skills and flies on an optional guided fishing trip, in search of monster trout on world-famous stretches of the mighty Missouri River.

Tyler Lotz, Cultured Clearing

Jason Walker, A Hand in Two Worlds

George Hrycun, Evidence 4 (detail)

Tyler Lotz, a fly fisher, sculptor and Associate Professor in Ceramics at Illinois State University, received a BFA from Penn State University and an MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. He has been an artist in residence at the Archie Bray Foundation and at the Watershed Center for Ceramics, and recently taught at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine. Lotz has exhibited his work widely and is represented by galleries including the Dubhe Carreño Gallery in Chicago.

Jason Walker grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, and received a BFA from Utah State University and a MFA from Penn State University. He currently resides in Bellingham, Washington, and works as a studio artist. In 2001–03 he spent two years as a resident at the Archie Bray Foundation, where he was the recipient of the Taunt Fellowship award. His artwork has been shown nationally and internationally and is part of many private and museum collections.

George Hrycun is a former teacher, current magistrate, draftsman, sculptor, and committed fly fisherman and fly tyer. He received a BS in biology and a BA in sculpture from SUNY at Potsdam, New York, and an MFA in sculpture from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has taught at the University of Wyoming and Alfred University in New York. Drawing is his current art-making focus. Hrycun has 40 years experience tying flies for fly fishing: he has outfitted and instructed countless enthusiasts and has presented numerous tying workshops. Currently Hrycun is showing with OK Harris Gallery in New York City, has exhibited nationally and is represented in public and private collections.