Winston Publishing

PORTFOLIO ~ P.33 TEXT BY AMY JOYNER M embers of the Arts Asso- ciation of Montana are together again this year for their fourth show and sale, which showcases the overall creative diversity found in their art. "Our types of art? There are all mediums here, practi- cally everything," says Jean Fleming- Mazur. "We are pretty much non-west- ern artists. Some do landscape, and they sell well here. "We have unique artists who are multi creative, working with not just one medium, but a variety," she adds. Fleming-Mazur is one such artist, as her paintings have many medium – some with a Japanese inspiration. She is one of five Association members serving on a steering committee coordinating the show and sale for the fourth year. Formerly called the Great Falls Art Asso- ciation, the Arts Association of Montana has chosen the impressive Ozark Room in the History Museum for the second year as home for their event. Their Missouri Falls Fine Arts Show and Sale features 13 AAM artists. The show raises funds to support AAM's an- nual Val Knight Scholarship. Each year, every participating member artist dis- plays and donates an original piece of art for a raffle, with the winner drawn on Saturday evening. Only 100 tickets are sold and the proceeds are placed in an account, which this year funds two $300 scholarships for high-school graduates who will further study art. The show has two featured artists this year, each of whom is creating a piece specifically for sale at the show. The first is Pat Bushley-Johnson, an 80-year-old artist and founding member of the Association. She is known widely for her fabric creations, but is also show- ing some of her drawings and paintings. Fleming-Mazur says, "People love how (Pat) takes old blankets and makes something new out of them." Bushley-Johnson has been working with her talents for nearly four de- cades, Fleming-Mazur adds. "Pat has been a group member going back to the '70s, when we were the Montana Institute of Arts. She is so well known for her drawing." The other featured artist is Shirley Sands, a well-known oils artist from the Choteau area who has gained some national recognition, as well. "Her landscapes and clouds are amazing," Fleming-Mazur says. "She comes from a family of artists, but they do more realistic art." To see Sands' work as it happens, attend her live demonstration during Thursday's late afternoon reception. For 2017, AAM is sharing space in the corners of the Ozark Room for the History Museum to unveil its new exhibit of famed sports glory in Great Falls. History Museum Executive Director Jim Meinert says, "It honors and educates others about these legends involved in historic hockey and football teams, as well as skating and boxing events. …"It's the best of the Electric City's wonderful athletes." The museum will also display and hold a silent auction of several museum- owned pieces. All items being sold were donated for the good of the museum, and are not held in its permanent ex- hibit. "This artwork has been donated to the museum for its fundraising efforts," the Meinert adds. MISSOURI FALLS FINE ARTS SHOW & SALE A Non-Western Approach to Western Art Week > m i s s o u r i f a l l s a r t s h o w & s a l e "Fishing on the Missouri", Acrylic, Jean Kesler MISSOURI FALLS FINE ARTS SHOW & SALE EVENT SCHEDULE Thurs., March 16, 2017 • 1 – 8 p.m.: Show and sale open • 4 – 8 p.m.: Opening reception; artist demonstration Fri. & Sat. March 17 & 18, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Show and sale open; Saturday artist demonstrations • 7 p.m. Saturday: Raffle winner chosen for Val Knight Scholarship Fund Sun., March 19, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Show and sale open; artist demonstrations History Museum: 422 2nd St. S , Great Falls, Montana "Rendevous", Watercolor, Jean Radke

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