Western Rendezvous of Art: A gathering of fine art makers and admirers
Published: August 7, 2011
The 33rd annual Western Rendezvous of Art, Aug. 18-21, brings 49 members of the Northwest Rendezvous Group (NWR) and invited guest artists to Helena to participate in the state’s longest-running fine-art show and sale. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, with the opening of the Rendezvous Art Show at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel, followed at 5 p.m. by an informal western barbecue at the Montana Historical Society, featuring music by Helena Handbasket.
On Friday, the public is invited to two free seminars, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Jim Wilcox, a nationally renowned NWR artist from Jackson, Wyo., discusses "Tricks of the Trade – Why You Love It," and historian, art collector and gallery owner Thomas Minckler shares his research on the floral paintings of Joseph Henry Sharp. Minckler, a native of Cut Bank now dividing his time between Billings and New York City, is author of In Poetic Silence: The Floral Paintings of Joseph Henry Sharp, which has been nominated for a High Plains Book Award.
Friday evening’s festivities start off with an artists’ reception, followed by the gala awards banquet.
The “granddaddy of all Quick Draws” will be held Saturday at the historic Sieben Ranch near Helena, followed by an auction at noon. The fast-paced, fixed-price art sale of more than 200 original works is Saturday evening at the hotel. The Rendezvous concludes Sunday morning with a farewell breakfast and the Last Chance Art Sale.
In addition to the 49 nationally known artists who make up the Northwest Rendezvous Group featured in the show, this year’s invited guest artists are Tony Hochstetler, Stapleton Kearns, Robert Lemler, John Potter and Sheila Rieman.
Longtime art patron Doris Heckerman of Bozeman, together with daughter Leslie and son-in-law Terry Jackson, are honored guests at the show, and Stan Lynde is master of ceremonies.
Tickets are $150 for admission to all events; call 442-4263 or visit www.westrendart.org for details.
