ARTS COUNCIL OF BIG SKY
The seventh Auction for the Arts, the Arts Council
of Big Sky’s annual fundraiser, takes place March 30 at Moonlight Lodge from
6-10 p.m. A key part of the evening is a “quick finish,” in which each artist
brings a work in progress and finishes it in the early part of the evening,
followed by a live auction of the art created.
“We are fortunate to
have so many talented, well-known Western and contemporary artists take part in
the live auction,” said Event Chair Linda Goldinger. “In addition to the work
of familiar artists like Tom Gilleon, Kevin Red Star and Mike Untiedt, we have
five new artists all with a decidedly contemporary flair to their work.”
Belgrade-based Amber
Blazina is a Western oil painter specializing in impressionist and
expressionist alla prima methods. A graphic designer since 2002, she
transitioned to oil painting in 2016 and became a full-time painter in 2017 creating
bold, energetic paintings.
Bozeman artist Terry Cooke Hall
participated in the event’s 2018 silent auction. Hall started her career doing illustrations for land
development firms in Southern California, which led to the creation of a
commercial art business in murals and faux-finishing for contractors and
developers. Since 2006, she’s focused on developing a fine-art career.
“My style bridges the
gap between the traditional and contemporary West while applying the
foundational principles of design, value and color,” she said. “As a first-time, quick-finish, live-auction artist this year, I’m
thrilled to have this opportunity to present a new body of work that reveals a
more modern and sophisticated approach to my style.”
Rocky Hawkins’ art career began with illustration and commercial art,
but he found it didn’t fulfill his creative need and desire for
self-expression, which steered him to the world of fine-art painting. A search
to connect more closely with Native American inspiration brought him to
Montana, and he resides with his wife, Kat, in Harrison.
Palette knife artist David Mensing obtained a degree
in and worked in the field of architecture for about three years before seeking
other pursuits. He attended Scottsdale Artists School on a full scholarship
and has studied and painted extensively with Robert Moore in Idaho. He now lives in central Oregon with his wife
and three children.
Award-winning indigenous
artist Ben Pease
is also moving from the silent to live auction this year. A Montana State
University art major, Pease uses original antique paper items to draw
contextual, digital painting, spray paint, ink, acrylic, oil and almost
anything else he can find in his studio to create his well-known mixed media
pieces. His work is layered with symbolism which tells stories and conveys
social messages.
The Auction for the Arts will also include a silent
auction of local and regional artworks along with heavy appetizers, desserts,
jazz music and a “paddle raise” to collect funds for classroom space in the BSCO’s proposed community center, where the Arts
Council can host children’s art activities, adult art workshops and other art
events. An anonymous donor is
matching gifts made in support of this cause, giving paddle raise participants
the opportunity to double the impact of their donations. Purchasers of live
auction artwork are invited to a thank-you breakfast at Buck’s T-4 on March 31
at 9 a.m.
Three of the new artists—Hall, Pease and Mensing—will
participate in an Auction for the Arts reception on March 29 at Big Sky
Sotheby’s International Realty from 5-7 p.m. At the reception, each artist will
have a miniature painting in a one-night-only silent auction.
The event is sponsored by Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty and tickets are on sale now at bigskyarts.org.