Blackfoot River Serving Bowl

These one-of-a-kind, handcrafted Blackfoot River on of the artists favorite waterways.  Thrown and fired in Montana by noted ceramicist, Matt Simms, recently featured in the Fly Fish Journal when he depicted the entire Blackfoot River in 42 platters. These bowls are an extension of that project. The soda fired stoneware and porcelain bowls have accurate river stretches etched into the clay depicting some of Simms favorite floats on the river. With a protective glaze on the inside the outside is created with heat and fire from the kiln.

Choose from two stretches of the Blackfoot River:

Blackfoot River (The Canyon Stretch): The Blackfoot River was immortalized in the pages of  A River Runs Through It.  The Blackfoot canyon is in the upper stretch of the river with bright cliff walls and aqua blue water. Known for big, feisty West Slope cutthroats, rainbows and brown trout, a float through the canyon is a magical experience. It is also one of the last strongholds of the giant, bull trout as well.  

Blackfoot River (Clearwater Junction): Where the Blackfoot River is joined by the Clearwater River there is a giant rock formation that the river navigated around. Some say Clearwater Junction is spiritually strong because of this. What we know for sure is that this stretch of river is home to some of Montana's greatest fishing. Trophy brown trout, rainbow trout and West Slope cutthroat tout are know to grow well over 20 inches in this stretch. Some say, there might even be a bull trout over three feet in this stretch. 

About the Artist

Matt Simms has been an art teacher, fly fishing guide and ceramicist in Missoula, Montana for over 20 years. He focuses his atmospheric firings on combining the marks of the artist and the passage of fire over the clay to preserve that relationship.  Matt has fired his sculptural and utilitarian work in a wood kiln he built in Maxville, Montana, and at the Clay Studio of Missoula’s anagama and soda kilns. He earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from Lewis and Clark College after growing up in Colorado and Southern California. Matt’s work has been exhibited in Missoula and beyond, sold privately, and donated for auction.