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The C.M. Russell Museum auction featured a wide variety of Western art, including Grace Carpenter Hudson's (1865-1937) 'Wi-pon and the Poppies.' The 1921 signed oil on board measures 24 inches by 13 inches. Image courtesy C.M. Russell Museum.

Montana Western art auctions vie for customers

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
The C.M. Russell Museum auction featured a wide variety of Western art, including Grace Carpenter Hudson's (1865-1937) 'Wi-pon and the Poppies.' The 1921 signed oil on board measures 24 inches by 13 inches. Image courtesy C.M. Russell Museum.
The C.M. Russell Museum auction featured a wide variety of Western art, including Grace Carpenter Hudson’s (1865-1937) ‘Wi-pon and the Poppies.’ The 1921 signed oil on board measures 24 inches by 13 inches. Image courtesy C.M. Russell Museum.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) – Competition over bidders appeared to be the motif in Great Falls on Saturday as three art auctions vied for the same customers during the culmination of Western Art Week.

The C.M. Russell Museum came out the winner with an unofficial total gross sales of $1.57 million for the week, followed by the March in Montana sale at $1.47 million, and the Great Falls Ad Club, whose sale grossed $722,000.

The Russell Museum, which utilized Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com, produced its own auction this year after a split with the Ad Club.

The Ad Club’s auction for decades was a fundraiser for the museum until museum officials complained they weren’t receiving their fair share of the auction money. The Ad Club said it will find a new beneficiary after this year’s sale.

Sara Becker, Ad Club executive director, said she was pleased with the results.

“Overall, I consider it a success,” Becker said.

Western Art Week is held around the birthday of renowned western artist Charlie Russell, who was born March 19, 1864.

With three art auctions, some predicted more buyers might arrive in Great Falls, which bills itself as the Western Art Capital and uses the art auctions to back up the claim.

“We had a strong crowd,” said Manitou Art Gallery owner Bob Nelson, who was at the March in Montana auction. “It was a very good sale.”

The March in Montana auction is a partnership of the Manitou Galleries and the Coeur d’Alene Auction of Reno, Nevada.

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Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com

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AP-WS-03-21-10 2001EDT