GREAT FALLS– Art is up and on display at several shows in the Electric City, as Western Art Week kicks into full swing.
The Out West Art Show opened at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Heritage Inn.They have a reception with refreshments and a chance to talk with artists.
There are 140 artists with galleries set up through Saturday at 10 p.m.
“This is truly a national show right here in Great Falls,” said Out West Show and Sale Vice Chair Chip Jones. “We’ve got people from Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, so they come from everywhere, not just Montana. So it’s a really unique place for patrons to come visit with artists [to] hear the story about how they work and what they’re passion is and then hopefully go home with a nice piece of art.”
All events are free and open to the public, including the Wednesday reception. Young Masters will be held Thursday, QuickDraw on Friday, a performance by Supaman on Saturday and a quick finish to follow. All rooms are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.
The Western Heritage Artists’ Footprints on the Trail Show also begins Wednesday, also at the Holiday Inn.
The show starts off with a reception and refreshments in the hotel lobby at 7:00 p.m., and there will be 65 showing artists from around the Northwest with galleries on the first and second floor.
The show of western and wildlife art will be on display until Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
“We have everything from pencil artists to oil painters to sculptors to carvers so come check it out there’s everybody’s taste in here,” said Mary Michael, Western Heritage Artists president.
This year’s show also includes a new western art rodeo event on Friday and Saturday.
The western art rodeo judges will score two pieces from participating artists over Friday and Saturday. The scores will then be added up to determine the winners of cash and other prizes.
The art rodeo starts at noon on both Friday and Saturday.
For more information on Western Art Week, you can visit the City of Great Falls’ events page.
-Reported by Joe Huisinga/MTN News
