Artists and collectors gather for Western Rendezvous of Art
The Western Rendezvous of Art, Montana’s premier summer exhibition and sale of fine art, celebrates its 31st year, Aug. 20-23 in Helena. Organizers promise “a rousing celebration,” featuring works by 52 artists (46 members of the Northwest Rendezvous Group of artists (NWR) and six distinguished invited guests), free seminars and ample western hospitality. Read more
Trail of Painted Buffalo leads to art auction
West Yellowstone’s Painted Buffalo Herd, consisting of 26 cows and 10 calves, will roam through town for one final summer, before being auctioned to the highest bidders on Aug. 29. Bidding is also available online at www.wyed.org. Read more
Economic downturn hits Montana art auctions
Buyers found bargains this year at art auctions in Great Falls, Billings and Missoula – an outcome that didn’t surprise the directors of the three museums that benefited from the sales. “Naturally, it’s disappointing,” says Yellowstone Art Museum director Robyn Peterson. “What’s encouraging is that it wasn’t the quality of art, or anything we did wrong. Everyone – the artists and the buyers – are still in the ring.” Read more
Teenage collector snares Russell original
Although 16-year-old Tim Seery didn’t break auction records with his purchase of an original Russell painting, he probably comes in as youngest-buyer-ever at the 41st annual event, held March 20-21 in Great Falls. “He spied this piece when the catalogue came out, went after it at the auction and got it,” says Susan Johnson, interim director of the Russell Museum. Read more
Great Falls auctions draw art lovers
Known as the biggest bash in the western art world, the C.M. Russell Auction, held March 18-21 at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls, turns 41 this year, and organizers promise another “enthusiastic, fun-filled, and hospitable event.” Since its inception in 1969, several other auctions and art shows have joined the line-up, turning the Electric City into a mid-March Mecca for western art lovers. Read more
Lectures celebrate 50th anniversary of Russell sculpture in Statuary Hall
Montana native John (Jack) Weaver will be in Montana March 19-20 for the 50th anniversary of the installation of his monumental sculpture of Charles M. Russell in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. Weaver’s piece was the first of Montana's two sculptures, installed in 1959 – and is the only representation of an artist. Read more
Anne Morand | Your Friend, C.M. Russell
What a pleasure it must have been to receive a hand-rendered greeting or illustrated letter from Charlie Russell. And the artist must have enjoyed crafting these missives as well, for he created more than 500 pieces of illustrated correspondence. The C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls has 59 of these letters and holiday cards in its permanent collections, and has reproduced them Your Friend, C.M. Russell. Read more