Hockaday showcase event features 27 women artists

The Hockaday Art Museum in Kalispell is hosting “A Timeless Legacy— Women Artists of Glacier National Park” on Aug. 13.

This is a premier art event and sale, and a significant fundraiser for the museum, according to Brian Eklund, communications director for the museum.

This is the second time the museum has presented a “Timeless Legacy.” Last year, the event was designed as an exhibition to honor those women artists who were not given proper credit during their lifetimes as well as four contemporary artists.

This year’s event will play off of last year’s women artist theme and feature only contemporary women artists and original works.

The event will show about 75 pieces of art from 27 nationally-known women.

The pieces on display are all originals that were made specifically for this event.

“We curated originals for the show — nothing in the show has been displayed anywhere else, and that really makes things special,” Eklund said.

Subject matter includes a mix of landscape, wildlife, Native American and Glacier National Park art. There will be one sculptor represented in the show, as well as one artist whose medium is batik. The other 25 artists are painters.

“Many of these artists have never exhibited in the valley, so it’s a great opportunity for art appreciators,” Eklund said. The artists hail from nine different states, and include Columbia Falls’ own Rachel Warner.

“It’s probably going to be the most beautiful and broadest range of talent the Hockaday has had in many years,” Eklund added. “The quality of this show is extreme.”

The event was led by Hockaday board member Roe Hatlen. It was only a couple of months after the first event that Hatlen had the idea to do it again, Eklund said.

“Roe’s vision is a significant fundraiser for the museum,” Eklund said. Hatlen himself is an avid art collector. It was Hatlen who invited the artists to participate in the upcoming event, including the four contemporary artists from last year who were invited to return.

“After the nation sees this, we’re anticipating significant interest in participating, and we’ll have artists seeking to participate,” Eklund said.

The event is unique as an event and sale, Eklund said.

“We’re doing something we’ve never done before,” he said.

Each guest will receive a bid slip book with a number corresponding to each piece of art. If they like a piece, they will write their name on the slip and submit it for drawing. If their name is drawn, then they will be able to purchase the artwork. The event is “Glacier casual,” Eklund said. Member tickets for the sale event are $25, non-member tickets are $35. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The art will remain on display until Sept. 10.