Helena College Capstone Exhibition

Harlequin McNamee is a Non-Binary artist born and

raised in Helena, Montana. Earning their Associates

of Art in May 2022, they are pursuing their education

with University of Montana in graphic design and

business entrepreneurship.

 

Born in Colorado, Ciarra Apodaca moved around until the age

of nine when her single mother settled in Helena, where she’s

resided ever since.  She is pursuing a degree in the arts without

a focus having found the desire to create and present the narrative

of personal struggles. Mental health, inequality, dealings with

space in the literal and metaphorical sense, and the individual

experience are recurrent themes in her work.

 

Rachel Twoteeth-Pichardo is an enrolled member of

the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. She was born and raised

in Helena MT, in which she still currently lives with her

Husband and daughter. Her grandmother Sharon Twoteeth

has been a major influence in her life from which her love of

pow-wowing, beading, drawing, and learning about her

culture was ignited. Sharon is featured in all the Ledger Art

pieces, as the ledger paper used was from Sharon’s store in the

90’s and it is her handwriting. Sharon left the world several

years ago, so the artist creates these ledger art pieces to keep

this grandmother and granddaughter duo connected and still

crafting together. Rachel works with varying types of mediums

and tends to intertwine her culture with modern styles. She is

currently a student at the University of Montana, going for her

BA in art.

 

Ben Schwabauer was born in Goldendale, WA. He moved to

Helena in 2003. He is currently attending Helena College

University of Montana. Ben has participated in multi group

shows, placed regionals in Poetry Out Loud, and helped paint

a mural for Helena College. He has gone on two humanitarian

mission trips to El Salvador and the Philippines. He is studying

to become a teacher. He was diagnosed with Bipolar in 2018

and now uses art as a coping mechanism and inspiration to push

on and create. He is still located in Helena.