Winston Publishing

40 • portfolio missouri falls art show & sale Missouri Falls Fine Arts Show Fostering the Next Generation of Western Artists A parade of talented Arts Association of Montana (AAM) artists will take Great Falls by storm at the 7th annual Missouri Falls Fine Arts Show during Western Art Week. You'll find a little bit of everything at this dynamic show, including photography, mixed-media, collage, calligraphy, and ceramics, as well as a wide variety of paintings, drawings, and prints. In continuing its mission to foster art appreciation, enrichment, sharing, and education, the non-profit AAM will again be awarding the Val Knight High School Scholarship to three Great Falls senior high school students nominated for the honor by their art teachers. Funding for the scholarships is provided by a portion of AAM members' dues, as well as through the group's annual raffle during Western Art Week. Each artist contributes an original work of art to the cause, and only 100 tickets will be sold. They cost just $5 apiece. One of the Missouri Falls Fine Arts Show's two featured artists this year is Steve Nelson, who creates highly representative Montana landscapes – especially mountain scenes. Wildlife, horses, tipis, and other western icons are among his favorite muses. "I work in a variety of colored mediums on flat surfaces, including canvas, watercolor papers, and even relatively flat surfaces such as buffalo skulls or old wooden shingles," Nelson says. He also paints on slices of Brazilian agate – merging stunning natural beauty with picturesque wildlife and quintessential Montana landscapes. Although he has been creating artwork for 60 years, Nelson is always striving to learn and improve. Not only is Western Art Week a perfect opportunity to connect with fellow art enthusiasts, it is a way for artists to connect with one another. "I enjoy the very fine quality of art represented during Western Art Week," Nelson says. "I enjoy visiting with fellow artists and the willingness of a vast majority to share their thoughts about materials, techniques, and inspiration." Nelson, who is currently working on a Rocky Mountain Front scene for this year's show, will also have pieces featuring Square Butte north of Stanford, Castle Reef west of Augusta, and a buck antelope profile that he is excited to present. Sculptor and welder extraordinaire Bill Ryder, the show's second featured artist, will be bringing one of his metal- and-driftwood life-sized horses along with him this year, as well as smaller sculptures and some of his first human figuratives. "Living in Montana, I see horses every day and admire them all the more for their amazing abilities," Ryder says. "Our friend has therapy horses and I have spent time with them and seen them perform miracles with humans." He says he is inspired by the "interesting shapes and presence of certain mechanical objects when combined to form familiar organic shapes." Ryder, who also teaches one-day welding classes to small groups at his studio in Helena, says he is excited to be a part of this year's show, and that he has always been enthralled with the sheer number of great artists on display during Western Art Week. The Missouri Falls Fine Arts Show begins will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There will be an artist reception beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, with music by Mellisa Scott carrying into the night. "We do a People's Choice Award that is voted on during the opening reception evening," says show coordinator and AAM Vice President Jean Fleming- Mazur. The winner of the People's Choice Award, as well as the recipients of the Van Knight Scholarships and the raffle drawing, will take place during the closing reception beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The merriment will continue with a performance by Dave Roba that evening. By Holly Matkin

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