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
Helena artist Richard Notkin receives $50,000 fellowship
Helena ceramic artist Richard Notkin is among 50 recipients of USA Fellowships for 2008 – a group of artists hailing from 21 states and ranging in age from 31 to 82. “This type of open financial support – in addition to the recognition – also frees some of my time to focus on new images, techniques and concepts that would otherwise be difficult to pursue,” he says. Read more • (1) Comments
“The Bison” celebrates and explores iconic critter
The bison are scheduled to roam once again at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, and this time they are sticking around for the new permanent installation, “The Bison: American Icon, Heart of Plains Indian Culture,” which opens in December to much fanfare. The exhibit fills three galleries (including one new space) with some 500 objects … Read more