Montana Blue Heron is Marilyn Evans Stevens and William Stevens, two self-taught weavers who have taken their willow structure weavings from simple basketry into the realm of woven sculpture and three-dimension wall art.  These sculpture weavings with bright bold beautiful colors have found been at the Celebration of Fine Art for over ten years and continue to find their way into beautiful homes.

The work by Marilyn and Bill is the result of a shared vision, communication, and the fact that nearly every individual piece has had both of their hands on it at some point in its development.  If Bill is the “What” of the piece, Marilyn is always the “How”.
Each year begins, as does each weaving, with the willow.  Wands of willow and red osier dogwood are gathered in the Spring and replenished in the Fall.  When they are picking willow, you may be assured that it is a beautiful, golden day along a silver ribbon of river, somewhere in Montana, from the Tobacco and Flathead in the north to the Beaverhead or Bighole in the south.  The gathered bundles represent the body of work to come over the next 6 months, and though Montana Blue Heron clients tell them again and again that it is their Color that is paramount in their decision, for Marilyn and Bill the work is in the Willow.
The Willow is the foundation, the “bones” of every piece.  It provides the grace of shape, strength and durability.  Over these bones are laid the flesh of weaving in colors and textures ranging from the brilliant to the sublime.
Color is the domain of Marilyn.  Her skills combine to create colors that gleam.  She is like some combination of chef and chemist as she mixes her potions and powders to some recipe known only to her through her years of experience as a master dyer.  After hours in her magic vats, the plain, drab and common wands turn into the scintillating colors of which their work is renowned.
Another feature of note in their weavings is the use of antler and wood, not as an adornment, but as an integral form affecting part of the piece.  The antler is purchased while the wood is another component of the quest to find pieces of Aspen and Pine to finalize and create the most dramatic element of their unique wall hangings and sculptures.
According to Marilyn and Bill, “No, our fingers never get tired!”
Be sure to see Montana Blue Heron’s new creations in 2010.