GREAT FALLS — We are just days away from Montana’s biggest Western art show.
But while the public is more than ready to view the art, the artists have spent months, if not years preparing for the big show.
Artists from around the country are heading to Great Falls for the Great Western Show, which brings in over 200 artists and their artwork to be displayed for everyone to view and purchase.
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“Yes. Come see us at the Great Western Show. It'll be fabulous. It is almost a sensory overload. There are so many booths, so many vendors, so many things to see and touch and experience. The shopping is amazing. There'll be live music,” Valier artist Gina Stonecircle said. “We should pretty much be the first booth when you come in the door. So please come visit us and, check this out. I don't think anybody else is doing quite what we do with our media. Working with wood and stone."
Artists from Valier have worked countless hours preparing for the show.
“That's the fun part about it was like, with Gina's, you know, she, she doesn't draw or sketch or anything, you know -- and I've said this before -- I gotta figure out what's in her head so that I can finish it, because I have no idea what's rattling around in there a lot of the time,” Valier blacksmith Joe Starnes told MTN.
The two artists have combined forces to create some unique one-of-a-kind pieces.
“This one is going to be a war bonnet. The spear is made from a piece of one-inch square stock. I started forging out the arrowhead and or the spearhead, and I thought, well, should I just make it one piece instead of welding at all. You know, welding the head on to it,” Starnes explained. “So, like I said, it started out one inch square. I got the arrowhead forged out or the spearhead, and then grew the shaft out and then textured it all and made that all one piece.”
A diversity of artwork for every connoisseur from fine art to Western furniture, fashion and functional art -- the Great Western Art Show has something for everyone. The event takes place from March 20 until March 23 at the Montana Expo Park.
