About the artist:

Born in Missoula, Montana, artist Tammy Bridges has lived in Helena for 19 years. She and her husband Marc live west of Helena and participate in a variety of outdoor activities.

After several years of building and woodworking, Tammy turned to metal fabrication. She completed a welding course at Helena School of Technology in 2002 and began to create original hand crafted western decor accents.

Tammy has developed a passion for art focusing on materials found representing ranch/farm life from the past. Through her creativity, she breathes life into the rusted and worn-out iron. Her placement and welding of the materials creates a second life for the iron pieces as they are entwined to depict a variety of western and animal characters.

ONE RANCHER'S JUNK IS ANOTHER'S WORK OF ART

"Look closely and you'll see I've formed their personalities from parts of plows, cultivators, seeders, balers, mowers, spike tooth harrows and more. I try not to alter the shape and texture of the iron pieces too much. That way, you can tell what the art started out as.
Farmers and ranchers can walk up, look at my sculpture and name every piece and even identify the machine it came from!"

Tammy's sculptures have been featured in the Upper Missouri River Artist Gallery in Helena as well as the "Country Woman" magazine. She has participated in the Fall Art Walk in Helena and the Phantom Art Walk in Butte. Look, too, for Tammy in the "2007 Artists of the Northwest" coffee table book which will be published soon.

Since she works full-time, Tammy's art is done primarily on weekends. Several weekends and evenings are also dedicated to hunting for the old time materials she needs for her metal sculptures.

tb@montanafarmart.com
(406) 457-0087