Official Guide to Art Week Great Falls, Montana March 15th-19th, 2023
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1219974
42 • portfolio Wild Bunch Art Show Expect the Unexpected wild bunch art show I March 18 Exhibit Rooms Open 5-8pm March 19 Exhibit Rooms Open 10am-8pm March 20 Exhibit Rooms Open 10am-8pm March 21 Exhibit Rooms Open 10am-8pm Coffee & homemade cookies offered throughout the show. Hampton Inn • 2301 14th Street SW Wild Bunch Art Show Event Schedule f you love outside-the-box art media and stunning creations that nudge logic into another dimension, then you can't miss the Wild Bunch Art Show at the Hampton Inn during Western Art Week 2020. Show founder and fellow artist A. Nadine Pickthorn spent nearly three decades as an exhibiting artist at the CM Russell Art Auction before she launched the Wild Bunch collaboration 12 years ago. "I have chosen these people specifically in order to have the most variety you'll find in a small show," says Pickthorn, who also happens to be among her 15 contributing artists' biggest fans. "I mean – this is crazy stuff!" Her excitement is palpable, and it's easy to see why. Visitors to this year's Wild Bunch show will have the opportunity to take home a plethora of one-of-a-kind treasures, including intricately-detailed wood carvings of wildlife and landscape scenes by Ken Acton. "Ken uses power tools to make wood-carving wall hangings," Pickthorn explains. "Everything is in perfect proportion – it is incredible." Janet Moczar-Buti and Jim Buti, a husband-and-wife team from Livingston, will be on hand with their individual work as well as at least one stunning collaboration piece entitled "Sudden Squall." The painting features a cliff-navigating mountain goat that – despite being in the midst of an icy winter storm – appears peacefully content and serene. If you enjoy wildlife paintings with so much visual texture that you'd swear they're truly tangible, stop by to check out Jeffrey Hoff's acrylics. Bronze artist Pamela Harr, who has created monumental bronzes all over the state, will also be on hand. Master potter Lena LeVeque creates a wide variety of ceramic masterpieces, including some that are adorned with antlers and an array of hand-crafted blossoms. "Some of her vases are 30 inches high," Pickthorn marvels. "I don't know how she does it!" Glasgow couple Larry and LeAnn Ochsner cut and polish their own stones to create their one-of-a-kind pendants and jewelry sets, while Fort Peck artist Connie Tveten carves birds so realistically, many visitors insist they must be taxidermy. "I've seen people blow on them to try to make the feathers move," Pickthorn says. Another outside-the-box artist at this year's Wild Bunch show is Sharon Trandem, who paints and carves gourds with such intricacy that their metamorphosis is difficult to conceptualize. By Holly Matkin "You can't believe they're really gourds," Pickthorn says. Pickthorn's own highly-sought-after rock paintings will also be available at the Wild Bunch Art Show, but you'll have to come early if you'd like to have one for yourself. "Inside of 15 to 20 minutes, they're all sold," she says. The group has established a collector's club, which allows visitors to get into the show early so they can buy up their favorite pieces before the crowds show up. Collector's club tickets cost $35 per person or $50 per couple, and can also be traded in for vouchers to spend with various Wild Bunch artists. Please call (406) 842-5266 ahead of the show to join the club! Nadine Pickthorn - Grizzly

