Duane Braaten: Director of Art and Philanthropy, C.M. Russell Museum - Epi. 337, Host Mark Sublette

THE RUSSELL AUCTION • March 20-22, 2025 • Featuring over 125
historic pieces, including more than 20 iconic works by Charles
M. Russell. Visit cmrussell.org to learn more.


I had Duane Braaten on today and he's a very interesting guy. It
just goes to show that when you grow up in an art community like
Great Falls, MT  it can affect you and it certainly affected
Duane. I think in a way it may have affected him more than he
even realizes.


You see, Duane goes to pharmacy school, but he discovers his love
for the creative world, art, and art museums. What happens is he
works as a security guard at the school art gallery. This alters
his trajectory a great deal, and he winds up at the Charlie
Russell Museum as a preparator, eventually becoming the 
Director of Art and Philanthropy and he's been there since 1996.


The big event we talk about in this podcast is the auction that
the C.M. Russell Museum puts on annually called "The Russell."
It's the main fundraiser for the C.M. Russell Museum, which is
typically the third week in March.


If you haven't gone to that event, believe me when I say that
it's a fantastic experience. It's really worth doing. You have
all of this interesting art that you can purchase and see, both
contemporary and historic. I think 25 Charles Russell works will
be for sale, that again, all help the museum, which is an
important institution.


So very interesting to talk to Duane about his life, about his
career at the C.M. Russell Museum, and the annual auction that is
happening March 20, 21, and 22 happening in Great Falls, Montana
and online at the link below:


https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/1115/the-russell-a-western-art-experience/