Official Guide to Art Week Great Falls, Montana March 15th-19th, 2023
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Ruth Franklin moved from the Midwest to Billings, Montana when she was twelve. She graduated from Colorado State College with a bachelor's degree in education and taught art in Great Falls, Montana for 25 years. "After retiring I was able to fully devote my energy to my own art," said Franklin. She began working in pen and ink, charcoal, macramé, weaving, cattle marker (oil pastel), mixed media and oil paint. Her subjects include still life, life drawing, flowers and design. Now, Franklin works mostly in oil using walnut oil as a medium due to its non-toxicity. She does have a preference when it comes to painting fruit. "The pear is now an important motif to me because of its shape, color and design. There are endless ways to paint them," says Franklin. Ruth's work can be found in the gift shop at Paris Gibson Square Museum and at Gallery 16 in downtown Great Falls. Alex Smithson is a local artist whose three-dimensional work is familiar to those who enjoy the River's Edge Trail along the Missouri River. In 2005 he began welding during a construction job and has been making metal art ever since. "I like working with metal because it can stand the test of time, especially outdoors," says Smithson. His sculptural works include chains, bolts, tools, car parts, and all types of scrap metal. 38 • portfolio missouri falls art show & sale Missouri Falls Fine Arts Show Featuring Local Fine Artists T he sixth Annual Missouri Falls Fine Arts Show displays works of artists who belong to the Arts Association of Montana (AAM). Their venue is the Ozark Room at the History Museum, where the artists enjoy plenty of space amongst the museum's regular exhibits. This year, twelve artists of the association will be exhibiting including two feature artists, Ruth Franklin, a longtime AAM member and Alex Smithson, a community artist, each representing two different art dimensions. "Ruth is a very talented artist who works in 2D paintings and drawings. Alex's talent is taking recycled metal and turning them into 3D sculptures," says Jean Mazur, vice president of the AAM. By Ellie Stone Alex Smithson Ruth Franklin