March in Big Sky Country
| |
DALE BY STEVEN SHORE |
Three shows across the state feature art and collectibles of the West
The 40th annual C.M. Russell Art Auction unfolds March 12-15 in Great Falls, featuring 300 wildlife and landscape works by 50 masterful artists. Among them: Doug Hyde, Richard Loffler, Chris Owen, Bill Nebeker, and Huihan Liu. Works by deceased artists such as C.M. Russell, Oscar Berninghaus, and Olaf Wieghorst are also on view. The event is sponsored by the Great Falls Advertising Federation and takes place at the Heritage Inn. For more information: 406.761.6453 or www.cmrussell.com.
Meanwhile in Missoula, two additional shows are a must-see for art lovers. Dana Gallery presents Out West: The Great American Landscape, a show of works by top contemporary western artists, including Duke Beardsley, Mark Knudsen, William Matthews, Steven Shores, Gordon McConnell, Ed Mell, Julie Chapman, and Kathryn Stats. Galleries throughout the country have contributed artworks, including Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art in San Antonio, Big Horn Galleries in Cody, and Joyce Robins Gallery in Santa Fe. The presentation runs through March 15. Last year’s edition of the show traveled to six different cities and venues in China such as the National Museum of China in Beijing. A catalog with an essay by Amy Scott, curator of visual arts at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, accompanies the show. For more information: 406.721.3154 or www.danagallery.com.
Also taking place in Missoula, Manitou Galleries, in association with the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, presents an auction and show titled March in Montana. The event includes cowboy and Native American collectibles with about 50 art dealers and galleries from around the country represented. The Townhouse Inn is the venue for the event. For more information: 307.635.0019 or www.marchinmontana.com.
| |
GRIZZZZ BY BONNIE MARRIS |
Animal Attraction
JACKSON • Trailside Galleries presents its annual Wildlife Discovery show spotlighting images of animals in their natural habitats. Works by more than 30 prominent artists from across the country are featured. The show offers an excellent opportunity for wildlife art enthusiasts to see a wide variety of styles in the genre, from Linda St. Clair’s expressionistic paintings of farm animals to Lindsay Scott’s photorealistic renderings of exotic African species. Chad Poppleton, Ralph Oberg, Andrew Denman, Kathy Wipfler, and Bonnie Marris are among the other artists with works on view. For more information: 307.733.3186 or www.trailsidegalleries.com.
An Artful Lodging
JACKSON • If you visit Jackson, WY, and love western art, be sure to check out the historic Wort Hotel, located just off the bustling town square. Thanks to a partnership with West Lives On Gallery across the street, the hotel boasts paintings by well-known western artists such as Tom Dorr, Mark Keathley, Ray McCarty, and Joseph Velazquez. The original artworks are on view throughout the lobby as well as in guest rooms. The Wort has been designated one of America’s 54 Great Inns by National Geographic Traveler and one of North America’s Top 50 Ski Resort Accommodations by Condé Nast Traveler.
Bookmark
Colorado photographer Jenny Gummersall has a new book out. Horse Dreams includes 20 images from her series of toy horses in unusual locales. The 52-page book is available through Zeal Art Publishing (zealartpublishing@mac.com) for $36 and www.gummersall.com.
Prizewinners
The artists voted, and they chose Len Chmiel’s moody landscape painting ANOTHER ENCORE for the Artists’ Choice award at the annual Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale held in Denver, CO, in January. The title turned out to be prophetic: Chmiel snagged the same award at last year’s show. Fellow Coloradan Steve Kestrel won the Best of Show award for RATTLE ME NAUGHT, a stone sculpture depicting a snake.
MORE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ART EVENTS....
|
