Shane Ophus has a big deal going on in Great Falls during the Russell Art Auction. On Saturday, March 19 Shane will be auctioning off the fine art from the estate of Don Ream at the Northwest Events Center. The auction begins at 10 am. You can preview the art on Friday from 1 pm to 5:30 pm at the Events Center. The Events Center is located at 221 Northwest Bypass in Great Falls.
There are over 90 framed prints, originals and pictures and over 80 bronzes some by Ream himself and many by others. Not only was Ream a good artist in his own right but he collected all manner of western art too. There are vintage guns and pistols that will be auctioned off at 1 pm on the 19th. There is much Native American art, mounted heads and a large selection of furniture, western books and western art books.
Many Big Sandy residents will remember Mr. Ream who was a featured artist in two Big Sandy art shows put on by the Big Sandy Chamber of Commerce in 2003 and 2004. In 2003 he put on a "Quick Draw" of a bear at a scratching post which was sold to help with beautification projects around Big Sandy.
Shane Ophus said, "Don Ream helped out Big Sandy and it feels good to me to be able to help out his estate by selling his collection of art."
The gun collection is very special. There is a Civil War Massachusetts Arms Smith Carbine. It is a standard single shot breech-loaded percussion cavalry weapon made during the American Civil War. It is a unique design that was far more effective than its muzzle-loading predecessors that were still in use when the war broke out.
The gun is marked number 370 out of approximately 30,000 made by the original manufacturer Massachusetts Arms Company. It is a .50 percussion caliber.
Then there are two very special Savage North Percussion pistols that were also used by the US Navy during the Civil War. These guns were part of 800 revolvers purchased by the United States Navy for $20.00 each.
Don Ream was from California originally. He is said to have rode bulls in rodeos during his youth and was a motorcycle traffic cop during his life in California. Ophus suspects that he probably worked until he had a pension from California, and then moved to Great Falls where he lived his life as an artist and a collector of western art.
Ream was known for his bronzes and reportedly sold one for $32,000.00 a few years ago.
This is a huge collection to be auctioned off during the Russell Art Show.
"There are some 80 bronzes, 100 paintings, furniture, guns, and much Native American art," added Shane. "There are around 400 pieces altogether."
Once again, Shane said that the entire collection can be viewed from 1pm to 5:30 at the Northwest Events Center in Great Falls, Montana.
This is a very private collection never seen by many until now. For the western art collector there should be things of great interest in this "once in a lifetime" event.
