Russell Auction sets all new records

Published: April 2, 2008

The 40th annual C.M. Russell Auction, held March 14-15 in Great Falls, eclipsed last year's record $2.4 million weekend with sales of $2,972,400.

Highlights of this year's auction included a single-night auction record of $2,052,750 on Saturday night, smashing last year's $1.46 million record. Saturday night's record was set in motion with the sale of Russell's "Robbing the Eagle's Nest," which went for $300,000, topping the previous high for a Russell painting of $240,000, set in 2002.

Andy Thomas, who received the Jurors' Best of Show Award for his oil painting titled "Charlie Russell and His Characters," sold his piece for $180,000, which is the highest price ever paid for a piece of art at the auction by any artist other than Russell.

Martin Grelle, one of this year's honored guest artists, sold his oil painting titled "Crows on the Yellowstone" for a healthy $150,000. Grelle's painting also took top honors during Friday night's Quick Draw, selling for $18,000.

Friday and Saturday's Quick Draw competitions generated a record of more $100,000, pushing the event's 31-year-total donation to over $1,000,000, with 100 percent of those proceeds going directly to the C.M. Russell Museum.

Top honors for Saturday night's Quick Draw went to Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey for a dye-on-silk piece titled "Camas Prairie Moon," which went for $9,500. Andy Thomas, who won this year's Juror's Best of Show Award, brought in $9,000 for his painting of an Indian on horseback hunting buffalo; and Shawn Cameron, the other honored guest artist for this year's auction, brought in $8,000 for her Quick Draw titled "Reminiscing."

Auction awards went to:

• Ralph "Tuffy" Berg Award - Elizabeth Pruitt, Olathe, KS, for her oil painting "Jade Jar and Oranges";
• C.M. Russell Museum CEO Award - Laurie Stevens, Cascade, for her oil painting "Little Star";
• Juror's Best of Show - Andy Thomas, Carthage, MS, for his oil painting "Charlie Russell and His Characters";
• People's Choice Award (Painting) - Kristi Billmayer, Havre, for "Motley Crew";
• People's Choice Award (Sculpture) - Christy Daniels, Frenchtown, for "Crossing, See You on the Other Side"; and
• Bob Scriver Award - Bruce Brock, auctioneer from LeMars, IA.

Since its inception 40 years ago, the Great Falls Advertising Federation, which organizes the event, has donated over $5,000,000 to the Russell Museum. Next year's auction is scheduled for March 18-21 at the Heritage Inn.