Paul Harris

The Paul Harris & Marguerite Kirk Gallery

Belgrade, MT

Fragments (of war)

War, a constant hum in the background of civilization, is here seen through the lens of artists. All three artists, over the course of three wars, share their perspective and various experiences. From World War II, to Vietnam, to Iraq, their voices resonate here today.

Jesse Albrecht

I saw the live footage on 9/11, as I walked through the University of Iowa student union halfway through my MFA ceramics program. Three semesters later I was in Iraq, deployed with the Iowa National Guard as a combat medic, and security detail sergeant. 

They didn’t issue me my aid bag. 

They also forgot to issue the ceramic plates (SAPI—small arms protective insert) that would stop bullets until just before we came home.  

My work strives to be honest and transparent about the enigmatic experience of serving in Iraq, and my path of “coming home” and working my way to recovery.  Some of these pieces intend to show the side of war that becomes invisible, once a boy feels the call to battle from an ancient and universal ram's horn.  The now obvious Iraq lies exposed only allowed me to focus on negative aspects of my experience, and my negative spiral increased over time. I have a fierce love and respect for those who have answered the call to service.  I served honorably and took the right action under fire and in sloth but left bitter and scorned by the hypocrisy that increased with elevation of power.  Many things factored into my recovery, but being healthy for my daughter was the driving force, and God reached me firsthand in a universal timeless truth, love, and beauty kind of way.  

I enlisted carrying on the family tradition of service–World War One, Tarawa, Pearl Harbor (and Coral Sea), New Guinea, and 2 Viet Nam Veterans–nobody told me and I wasn’t able to hear what war was, and what it did to them and our family.   

My pots are made to carry and embody my experiences. I paint with underglaze to convey an emotional range from humor to horror--making each pot a unique composition of the physical and emotional imagery experienced in Iraq–and coming home.  Historical military objects, specifically nose art of WWII and Zippos from Viet Nam along with Empire pots of Europe and Asia inspire my work.  

My work also utilizes commercial underglaze decals, used in a collage manner to create one of a kind compositions that are influenced by my Grandma Sissy's dinnerware. Making these pieces are significant as they represent crossing the threshold of, “...not needing to make everything be about how horrible war is...”.  The fundamental shift is powerful to focus on beauty, recovery and agency.  Art didn’t heal me–facing myself with the help of dedicated VA professionals, over years and varying means, and with love and support of many different people.   

The weapon of mass destruction became me focused on things I couldn’t control, and feeling that destroying myself was somehow atonement for sins I didn’t commit.  The biggest positive change we all can make, is to “start with yourself” to be the best people we can be, and that will radiate out. 

Keep up the good work or start.   

Albrecht was halfway through his MFA program (ceramics) at the University of Iowa when he was deployed to Iraq (03-04 medic/security work). His work explores the collision of war myth and reality through the physical and mental aesthetics of combat, national narratives, and the aftermath. Albrecht has taught art in colleges, art schools, non-profits, and workshops nationwide. He lives and works in Montana and uses ceramics, drawing, and papermaking in his work. His artwork is in numerous permanent collections including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Smithsonian, The National Archives, and The Library of Congress.

Daryl Paulson

Daryl Paulson was born in Great Falls, Montana  When he graduated from High School he enlisted the U S Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam 68-69   When he returned he received a PhD in Medical Microbiology   He also has a Master’s degree in  Biostatistics and MBA in business   He came to Bozeman after graduating and worked for Skyland Scientific Services   He started BioScience Laboratories and ran it for 30 years He also has a PhD in Art.  He welds sculptures using steel, wood and rocks. He also carves wooden sculptures, paints Sumi-E Paintings and other things.

He can be reached at 406-579-6938 or email Dpaulson0923@gmail.com .

Paul Harris (1925-2018)

The drawings in the show were done aboard the USS Ault, in 1944, while Paul served in WWII in the Pacific. The immediacy of the work comes through in his ability to tell a story in a few strokes of his pencil and were done in snippets of time when he wasn’t needed at the machine guns (feeding the ammunition to the gunner).

One the more striking aspect of this work is the kind of “paper” he used or rather found. Pieces of a box unfolded, stray papers left on a desk or in a bin, dispatch pads he’d come across all show us how vital a role art played in his life, at 18 and throughout his career. 

The Paul Harris and Marguerite Kirk Gallery is located in Belgrade, Montana and is open by appointment. The gallery and storage facility house over 500 pieces of Paul Harris’ art after they were transported from Bolinas, California over the last 5 years. Paul Harris and wife Marguerite adored Montana, and Paul spent the last years of his life here before passing in 2018.

Open by appointment.

The Paul Harris & Marguerite Kirk Gallery

190 Skyway Blvd., Unit 2

Belgrade, MT 59714

Please feel free to contact us for further information.

Email: PHAcollection@gmail.com

Website: www.paulharrisart.com