Russell event includes many Flathead artists

Artists from around the Flathead Valley have packed their portfolios and headed for the C.M. Russell Auction today through Sunday in Great Falls.

The event pays special tribute to animal sculptor Sherry Salari Sander of Kalispell; she was selected as the honored guest artist this year. Painter Tara Moore of Lakeside received the Ralph "Tuffy" Berg award for the best aspiring artist in the show.

From painters to sculptors, local artists with works accepted for the auction include Moore, Bye Bitney, Sheryl Bodily, Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey, Frank Hagel, Terry Mimnaugh, Daniel Parker, Salari Sander, Tom Saubert and Rusti Warner.

Exhibitor artists from the Flathead include Cawdrey, Warner, Hagel, Saubert, Sue Abbrescia, Robert Ball, Margaret Graziano, Nicholas Oberling, Mark Ogle, Glenn Swanson and Julie Wulf.