Official Guide to Art Week Great Falls, Montana March 15th-19th, 2023
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/797502
PORTFOLIO ~ P.13 > o u t w e s t a r t s h o w & s a l e OUT WEST ART SHOW & SALE Welcome to Western Art for All Ages TEXT BY AMY JOYNER Photos courtesy of the Out West Art Show & Sale S till held at the Best Western Plus Heritage Inn in Great Falls, the Out West Art Show & Sale has become one of the largest events of its kind in the country. For more than 20 years, about 120 Out West artists have annually brought their best work to show and sell at this annual art show in the adopted home of Charles 'Kid' Russell. At The Heritage Inn, artists have gathered to celebrate Russell's art legacy for 45-plus years. The Out West Show originated with the acclaimed Russell Auction decades ago and continues today with this show and sale. For one week each March, the show repeatedly highlights many long-acclaimed Western artists and the up- and-coming creators who learn via instruction through the Young Masters Program. Seven years ago, a group of artists and com- munity members met and formed the multifaceted regional program that is organized and financially support- ed by the non-profit Out West Art Foundation. They term the program "multifaceted" because like a precious gemstone, separate defined areas combine to increase the program's value to students and their art education. Each year a few dozen high schools in the Great Falls region bring students to Great Falls to compete and learn during Western Art Week. It begins with a judged student show that begins at a program sponsor location, Embark Federal Credit Union. "The schools love coming to Young Masters," says Julie McCamley, assistant vice president of business develop- ment for Embark. She was a co-founder of the Young Master Art Program in 2007. McCamley explains that all participating stu- dent artists bring their origi- nal art submission to Embark for judging by a group of professional Out West artists. Art by the Top 20 artists re- mains at Embark for a one- week display March 2-9, 2017. That week, friends, family members, the public TOP: High school students participate in hands-on art instruction at the Out West Art Show during Western Art Week. BOTTOM: This year, the Young Masters program will see over 100 students participating in the Out West Art Show.