By Robert Lucke
The Russell Museum in Great Falls has a varied array of activities that are open to the public all summer long and into the fall.
There is a cost per activity but if a person joins the Museum, that cost is much less.
“The Mountaineer” only just got the summer program brochure so the activities listed only are for August and into September and the fall.
On August 2 through 4 there is a Youth Art Camp entitled exploring expressionism. It runs from August 2 to 4 at the museum in Great Falls and is for grades 2 and 3. It is held from 10am to 12 p.m. each day. The cost is $30.00 per child and explores expressionist paintings and brush strokes to make expressionist paintings.
On August 13 there is a Saturday Studio where Steven Oiestad teaches about pastel painting. That workshop is August 13, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. The workshop is free with a museum admission ticket.
If you are interested in women’s history, don’t miss the Gallery Walk entitled “Women Naturalists at the turn of the 20th Century”.
This is a 45 minute walk which will enlighten visitors about the emerging roles of women in natural sciences and conservation at the turn of the 20th century. The walk is Augusts 19, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and admission is free with a museum admission ticket.
On August 20 the Russell Museum celebrates with a Chautauqua. Just bring a lawn chair and picnic lunch and be prepared to be entertained with a model of the original Chautauqua movement. The event is free and lasts from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m..
August 25 Chris Peterson of “The Hungry Horse News” has a presentation at 7pm of photographs celebrating a classic journey through Glacier National Park in 1915 by Mary Roberts Rinehart. The cost of this interesting group of photographs seeing areas of Glacier like Rinehart saw them costs $7.00 and is free to museum members.
August 15 there is a Pastel Painting Workshop with Steven Oiestad from August 26 through 28. The workshop lasts from Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 4 p.m. It is for those 16 and older and has a skill level of beginner to intermediate. There will be plenty of time for individualized instructor guidance. The cost of that workshop is $120.00 with a discount for Museum members.
On September 10, 2016 to January 16, 2017 there is a very special exhibition of art works usually never seen in Great Falls by the public. There is a special member preview on September 9, 2016. This exhibition gives members and guests a limited opportunity to view numerous pieces otherwise held in homes and private spaces out of the public eye. There is no cost listed for this unique exhibition of art.
September 10, 2016 there is a Saturday Studio when Ron Ukrainetz demonstrates engraving on claybord and echo Ukrainetz, Batik. The Saturday Gallery is free with museum admission ticket and runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m..
In September there is a hike close to home when George Bumann and Jay Eklund demonstrate Field Sketching in a hike of the Arrow Creek Breaks. It lasts from 7:30 to dusk on September 20, 2016. As participants hike the remote breaks of Arrow Creek, stops will be provided where George Bumann will give instructions on field sketching. The cost for that trek is $60.00 and it is advised that the hike will cover approximately three miles with a moderate difficulty rating. Participants should bring a lunch and water and dress for the weather and know their ability level for hiking Arrow Creek. Reservation deadline is September 15, 2016.
If you are interested in any of these events contact the Russell Museum at 1-406-727-8787 or visit the museum in Great Falls with your questions.
