January Member Spotlight: Breena Buettner

What do you do for work/free time?

For the past two years, I have worked with Prickly Pear Land Trust as their Membership and Outreach Coordinator. The work tasks include coordinating the two major fundraisers and community outreach events, and managing the website, social media, general outreach, and the members/supporters of the nonprofit. I feel that it overlaps perfectly with the ways I can support HYP as a board member, which is really exciting! I am also a ceramic artist and recently moved into my new home studio. It is a more cozy space than what I had become accustomed to, but it has been a long-time goal to have a studio close to home so that I can better balance my day job with my "passion-job" (is that a thing?). I love that Helena has such a vibrant ceramic community full of people who work with clay and appreciate local art.

How did you land in Helena?

I moved to Montana in the summer of 2015 to further my career as a ceramic artist and worked in a studio just outside of Helena firing the wood kilns with other potters. Having planned to work in the area for only a year, I quickly fell in love with the community and surrounding landscape, deciding to make Helena my home.

What is the best piece of advice that you ever received – career-related or otherwise?

When I was in undergrad, my main professor, Elmer, would often write quotes on the clay studio chalkboard to inspire productivity and combat chit-chat and laziness. One week the chalkboard read, "If you are not working hard to achieve something, then WHAT ARE YOU DOING???"

When do you feel the most yourself?

I feel the most myself when I am out backpacking or boating on a river. There are few things that I enjoy more than being outside away from the hussle and bussle of contemporary lifestyles. I am grateful that Helena is in such close proximity to beautiful, wild places.

Where is the last place you explored and where do you want to explore next?

TI recently spent a few days skiing in Taos, NM while I was home visiting family in Texas—Taos is a great place to travel to! Now, I am looking forward to skiing at Great Divide and hiking in the South Hills.

Tell us something about yourself that we didn’t ask:

Dogs are my favorite animals.