Native American and Charles M. Russell Art at YAM

The exhibition Mostly Plains: Arresting Native American Art and works by Charles M. Russell from the Charles M. Bair Family Collection is on display through May 18 at the Yellowstone Art Museum, 401 N. 27th St., Billings.

This focused exhibition draws attention to indigenous art—in the form of Northern Plains Indian artifacts—and imported art forms as practiced by Charles M. Russell.

The Northern Plains Native American art in the Charles M. Bair Family collection reflects a culture and its aesthetic.

This selection of Northern Plains artifacts includes fine examples of beadwork, quill work, and buckskin utilitarian objects. C. M. Russell respected the Native aesthetic even though he himself created work in a Euro-American tradition.

His subject matter and palette were as much inspired by his Montana surroundings as were the creations of the regional Native Americans he admired. The North American art from the Charles M. Bair Family collection is on long-term loan to the Yellowstone Art Museum. Selections from this extensive collection were exhibited in 2004-07.

“We are pleased to focus once more on the aspect of this collection that relates most closely to the deep history of our region,” said Museum Director Robyn Peterson.

Curated by the Yellowstone Art Museum’s Senior Curator Robert C. Manchester, this exhibition will be on view only at the Yellowstone Art Museum. This exhibition is sponsored by the Charles M. Bair Family Trust and Fox4/ABC6. For answers about the exhibition or opening reception please contact the museum at (406) 256-6804 or visit artmuseum.org.