Winston Publishing

PORTFOLIO ~ P.7 ON THE BLOCK - 2017 The Russell is how the action of auctions began, but here is a look at their events and the various other shows with auction events this year: THE RUSSELL AUCTIONS Fri., March 17, 2017 • 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: Art in Action, Meadow Lark Country Club. Art- ists have several hours to finish a piece - live auction happens at the end. Participating artists donating 100 percent of proceeds to the museum; Ticketed $50 members, $60 non-members. • 6-10 p.m., 6:30 p.m. auction.: First Strike Auction, Mansfield Convention Center, Presented by Fay Ranches, Inc. Selling works by contemporary artists; Ticketed $55 member, $65 non- member, VIP First Strike Auction seat upgrade at $25 more/ticket. Sat., March 18, 2017 • 4:30 - 10 p.m.: The Russell Live Auction, 4:30 dinner, 6 p.m. auc- tion, Mansfield Convention Center. Featuring contemporary art plus significant historical works; evening includes gourmet dinner and beverage service. Sponsored by BNSF Railway; Ticketed $175 members, $200 non-members. OUTWEST ART SHOW Held at the Best Western Plus Heritage Inn, the Outwest Art Show features in-room sales by private artists and galleries, many of whom also have had pieces accepted by jury into auctions held at The Russell. Here's what to expect for auctions: Fri., March 17, 2017 • 2:30-3:30 p.m.: Marty's Quick Finish, French Quarter/Sun Terrace. • 4-5:30 p.m.: Live auction of Quick Finish artworks; Convention area/stage; Awards Ceremony precedes auction. Sat., March 18, 2017 • 2:30-3:30 p.m.: Marty's Quick Finish, French Quarter/Sun Ter- race; Awards Ceremony precedes auction. • 4-5:30 p.m.: Live auction of Quick Finish artworks; Convention area/stage. MARCH IN MONTANA At the Elks Lodge, 500 1st Ave. South, full-day previews happen Thursday and Friday; Saturday morning the preview continues until noon. Auctions are at Noon Friday and Noon Saturday. A Boutique Dealer Show runs in conjunction with the preview and auction sessions Thursday through Saturday. The March In Montana Fine Art and Collectibles Auction is not new in 2017. The name is the same; so are the types of fine Western, sporting and wildlife art and sculpture being displayed and sold at their record-setting auctions. This is the 30th year that Manitou Galleries of Cheyenne, WY. and Santa Fe, NM, and The Coeur D'Alene Art Auction of Hayden, ID., are working together to present the show, sales and auctions. FOOTPRINTS New for 2017 is the Buffalo Skull Auction featuring 12 decorated oversized resin cast buffalo skulls. The skulls will be on display Wednesday and Thursday poolside with a Quick finish Friday evening followed by a live auction to benefit Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art. Saturday evening the popular Art Com- peting for Causes event returns with a Quick Finish, Silent Auc- tion, and Live Auction which benefits local education causes and Breast Cancer Awareness. Fri., March 17, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.: Exhibit rooms open; Lobby Show continues, all artists represented; Preview Buffalo Skulls poolside, live music, daily drawings. Free, open to public. • 6-9 p.m.: Quick Draw begins 6 p.m.; live auction at end, ben- efit for Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art; poolside Sat., March 18, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.: Exhibit rooms open; Lobby Show continues, all artists represented; live music, daily drawings. Free, open to public • 5-9 p.m.: Quick finish, silent and live auctions; Art Competing for Causes Event benefits Breast Cancer Awareness, Grizz Biz Kids, the Hobson BPA and WHA artists; poolside PARIS GIBSON SQUARE MUSEUM OF ART This year, Paris Gibson Square offers a weekend look and oppor- tunity to pre-purchase the art that in previous years would have only been available during their later fundraising auction. Thurs., Fri., Sat. March 16 - 18, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: 20th Annual Auction Art Exhibition; Wylder, Mungus-Volk, and Dufresne-Cobb Galleries; Buy It Now offered prior to live auction April 8, 2017 > t h e r u s s e l l : t h e s a l e t o b e n e f i t t h e c m r u s s e l l m u s e u m stream is different. Braaten says, "For the Quick Finish auction, through gen- erosity of those 26 artists, the museum is able to keep all those proceeds." For all the living artists and consign- ors who have art accepted into the auction through a jury process, accep- tance and sales are handled the same across the board, Braaten adds. "It doesn't differ artist to artist. They all have the same agreement, and the artists do keep the majority of the hammer price. "The jury process happens each spring on the heels of the last year's auction. Invitations and open call for submissions are sent, and all summer we accept three digital images in the submission for the selection process. That happens mid-October." He said the jury considers close to 1,000 pieces and about 250 are accepted. For 2017, 240 pieces were selected for the Friday auction and another 90 will appear in the Saturday night event. The Museum has contracted with auctioneer Troy Black for the past three years. "Troy is an incredibly efficient and entertaining auctioneer who runs a really tight ship. He keeps the excite- ment level high," he adds. "We work very hard all year long to have this event succeed. We enter- tain everyone in the room so we will have them back every year. They invite their friends to attend, and then they invite others. (It creates interest) and, they have to see what it's all about." Braaten has learned that because most of those in the core audience have an interest in the history of C.M. Russell, they also have an interest in the museum's success. "And, we are all here in Great Falls, the place where it all happened."

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