The Russell, the crown jewel of Great Falls, Montana, returns March 19 to the place where Charles M. Russell lived, worked and helped bring Western art into the 20th century. The artist and his legacy loom large over Western Art Week, the citywide event that has sprung up around The Russell, and yet the C.M. Russell Museum, the organizer and host of the show, continuously finds ways to celebrate the artist’s life while also looking into the future with artists who are inspired by Russell’s work.
Crowds gather for The Russell in Great Falls, Montana.
The resulting show produces, year after year, a diverse array of artwork from a diverse array of artists, each drawing in their own special way on the Russell legacy. This year is no different, with hundreds of works from some of the top Western artists working today, as well as important historic works from Russell and his contemporaries.
One of the key distinctions of The Russell is the way it allows artists of all stripes to submit works for consideration. “We are open for all,” says Duane Braaten, director of art and philanthropy at the C.M. Russell Museum. “We maintain an open call for submissions. We invite everyone to apply for consideration. I’m always excited every October about the submission deadline because we get to see work from studios across the country.”
A Charles M. Russell work is offered to bidders during the 2019 Russell.
This open submission process has made for an exciting venue for unheard-of artists to become established stars, and for veteran artists to cement their status as legends of Western art. Artists such as Jeremy Winborg and Andy Thomas have found tremendous success at previous Russell events, and both are returning this year. Last year the spotlight fell on Canadian painter Adeline Halvorson when a piece of hers, estimated at $5,000 to $7,000, sold for nearly $47,000. “She applied through our submission process and we selected one of her works, but upon shipping the piece, for whatever reason, it got hung up at the border. The piece, at that time, could not be located,” Braaten says. “But we wanted her work in the show, so to keep her involved we accepted a second piece of hers and that was the one runaway. The sleeper hits like that are always so wonderful for us, and exciting for our collectors.”
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), Following the Buffalo Run, ca. 1894, oil, 231/8 x 35" Estimate: $1.5/2 million
This year’s show kicks off March 19 with the Art Preview Party at the C.M. Russell Museum, and the opening of the Russell Skull Society of Artists Suites at the Mansfield Convention Center, where a large portion of the events will be held. On March 20, the festivities continue at the Meadow Lark Country Club with the Art in Action quickdraw event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the First Strike Friday Night Auction at 6 p.m. at the convention center. The First Strike sale is dedicated to works by contemporary artists, which includes works by Tom Dean, Lee Alban, Michael Blessing, Echo Ukrainetz and many others. The show picks back up again on March 21 with an educational symposium at 9 a.m. at the convention center and a fashion show at noon at the Meadowlark Country Club.
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), Indian on Horseback, 1898, oil, 13¾ x 10½" Estimate: $450/550,000
The centerpiece of the event is The Russell Live, which takes place March 21 at 5 p.m. The sale will feature a mixture of art from contemporary artists and a historic works from some of the top names in Western art, including nine works by Russell that range from oils and watercolors to bronzes and illustrated letters.
Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Green River in Wyoming, 1899, oil, 10⅜ x 14" Estimate: $750/950,000
Highlights from the Russell works include Following the Buffalo Run, a major oil work from around 1894, that is estimated at $1.5 million to $2 million. “This was made in the 1890s and is a perfect example of Russell hitting his stride,” Braaten says of the piece that shows a Native American woman on horseback on the plains with a child on her back and small pony by her side. “It’s a strong offering and really shows the great depth Russell was taking his works.”
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), Hall, Harvey D. “Old Wagon,” 1898-1899, watercolor, pen and ink on paper, 7¼ x 9⅜" Estimate: $50/70,000
Eanger Irving Couse (1866-1936), Indian by Firelight, oil, 24 x 29" Estimate: $75/125,000
Another Russell oil being offered is Indian on Horseback, a work from 1898 that is estimated at $450,000 to $550,000. The work shows a Native American rider whose horse is taking an awkward step off a short rocky outcropping. Also up for grabs for collectors is Meat for the Camp, a watercolor from around 1894, with estimates of $200,000 to $300,000. In addition to these major pieces, several smaller and more affordable works will be offered, including the pen-and-ink drawing Woman Petting Unsaddled Horse (est. $15/20,000) and the bronze The Bluffers (est. $20/30,000).
Other prominent lots in the 137-lot auction are Thomas Moran’s 1899 oil Green River in Wyoming (est. $750/950,000) and Eanger Irving Couse’s Indian by Firelight (est. $75/125,000). “We’re thrilled to have the Moran because it represents one of his great calling cards when it comes to subjects—the Green River in Wyoming. Masterpieces of this subject matter, and at much greater size, have drawn some incredible prices over the years. This is a strong piece, but at a modest size,” Braaten says. “And with the Couse piece, it represents the really wonderful collection of Taos works we have, which also includes some important works by Joseph Henry Sharp.”
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), Woman Petting an Unsaddled Horse, pen and ink, 8 x 9" Estimate: $15/20,000
The Sharp works include Call of the War Chief, with estimates of $750,000 to $950,000, which would put it within striking distance of some of the top Sharp lots to sell at auction—his record is $1.49 million—and The Bonnet Maker, a 1920s-era work estimated at $70,000 to $120,000.
Jeremy Winborg, Kicking Ass & Taking Names, oil, 41 x 50" Estimate: $21/25,000
“Call of the War Chief is the most major Sharp we’ve ever had. It comes to us from a consignor who has been watching the market and seen the results we’ve been pulling in year after year,” Braaten says. “The work has a short provenance. We tracked it from the artist to the family, and it’s been handed down through the generations ever since. It is absolutely fresh to the market. It’s also just a really wonderful example of his use of color and composition. You look at this work and you can see why artists today are drawn to works by Sharp.”
Andy Thomas, A Flash of Defiance, oil, 32 x 40" Estimate: $40/60,000
Adeline Halvorson, Boss Man, oil, 30 x 46" Estimate: $5/7,000
Other works in the sale include works from Dean, Winborg and Thomas, all regulars at The Russell and its events. Halvorson, who had the big sleeper at the 2019 sale, returns with Boss Man, estimated at $5,000 to $7,000. Other artists represented are Jennifer Johnson, Clyde Aspevig, Chad Poppleton, Donna Howell-Sickles, Troy Collins and many others.
Braaten adds that the proceeds from The Russell, including buyer’s premiums during the auction, go right back to the C.M. Russell Museum to be used in programming and educational opportunities at the Great Falls art destination.—
The Russell
An Exhibition and Sale to Benefit the C.M. Russell Museum
The Russell Auction Preview
February 20-March 19, Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13th Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
$9 / free for museum members
Russell Skull Society of Artists Suites
March 19-21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mansfield Convention Center, 2 Park Drive South, Great Falls, MT 59401
Free public event
Art Preview Party
March 19, 5-7 p.m.
C.M. Russell Museum
$40 members / $50 non-members
Art in Action
March 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Meadow Lark Country Club, 300 Country Club Boulevard, Great Falls, MT 59404
$50 members / $60 non-members
First Strike Auction
March 20, 6 p.m.
Mansfield Convention Center
$55 members / $65 non-members
The Russell Educational Symposium
March 21, 9 a.m.-noon
Mansfield Convention Center,
Missouri Room
Free public event
The Russell Runway Show: Wearable Art of the American West
March 21, noon-2 p.m.
Meadow Lark Country Club
$40 members / $50 non-members
The Russell Live Auction
March 21, 5 p.m.
Mansfield Convention Center
$175 members / $200 non-members
Information: (406) 727-1939
www.cmrussell.org/the-russell-event
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