Art Show Sales Up From Last Year

Another Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale is in the books, and according to organizers, it was a great success.
Kathy Thompson, Director of the event, says that despite wintry weather hampering travel plans for many who had planned to attend, the live auction Friday raised almost 750,000 dollars.

The item that was auctioned off at the highest price was Michael Untied’s piece titled “There Are Always Those Who Won’t Hoe Corn,” which sold for $30,000. Tina Hoebelheinrich, Chamber Director, says that many pieces sold in the $17,000 range, although there were some items that purchasers snatched up for a bargain.
The event itself is a celebration for artists and business owners who depend on the arts. Beckie Tilden Wagner, who with her husband Scott owns Buffalo Jump Winery, says that the event is an opportunity to connect their customers with talented artists.

Organizers expect that when sales from all the events this week are tallied, the event could raise close to a million dollars. After expenses, the profits are shared between the artists, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.