There is a lot to do and see during Western Art Week in Great Falls, Montana, but one of the highlights is undoubtedly the Out West Art Show & Sale,where more than 125 artists, galleries and dealers converge at the Heritage Inn for a weekend of art-driven events, activities and entertainment.
Kathy Sigle, Runs with Eagles, watercolor on aquaboard, 14 x 14”
From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, many of the top names in Western art will be represented across 110 exhibit rooms, among them John Gawne, Jeremy Winborg, Echo Ukrainetz, Gary Lynn Roberts, Greg Kelsey and Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey. More than half of the artists exhibiting at the Out West Art Show & Sale will also have works in the prestigious C.M. Russell benefit auction, The Russell, happening on site the same weekend. All forms of painting and sculpture, as well as pieces by a very select number of jewelry artists, will be available for sale.
Lee Rue, Fishing, oil on canvas, 24 x 36”
The exhibit rooms open at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 14, with official festivities kicking off in the central “French Quarter” atrium at 5 p.m. with the crowd-pleasing quick-finish event. A live auction of the 12 completed works by participating artists will follow the event with live music, artist demonstrations and hors d’oeuvres from 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday brings the exciting quickdraw at 3:30 p.m., during which artists have one hour to create an artwork, followed by the announcement of the Young Master’s Awards, the quickdraw auction, live music and demonstrations.
Finally on Saturday, the third quick-finish event starts at 2:30 p.m. with the live auction beginning at 3:15 p.m.
Larry Winborg, View from Sleeping Bunny, oil, 24 x 30”
The weekend culminates at 9 p.m. on Saturday when the Old West Art Show, in partnership with the C.M. Russell Museum and Heritage Inn, hosts the “After Auction” party featuring live music by DJ Joe Zahn. The event is free and open to the public.
“The venue is dynamic,” says show director Chip Jones. “You get to visit over 100 mini-galleries and have intimate conversations and viewings with top Western artists, then saunter into the central French Quarter where the flowers, trees and plants surround live events, music, food and the bar. You can walk the balcony while visiting rooms and have a perfect view of the events below.”
Albin Veselka, Closing In, oil on linen, 40 x 50”
The Out West Art Show & Sale is an event produced by the Out West Art Foundation. In addition to presenting work from premier painters and sculptors from across the United States and Canada, the Out West Art Foundation works with Montana high schools. All proceeds from the event go toward supporting the work of their cooperative of artists and fostering the talent of the next generation of artists through the Young Masters program. —
Out West Art Show & Sale
March 14-16, 2023
Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road, Great Falls, MT 59404
(406) 590-7071, www.owas.online
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