Yellow Bird comes to Hi-Line with his art

Monte Yellow Bird Sr., a Native American artist known for his work with Plains Indians and his use of vibrant colors, will be the featured artist for the 44th Annual Havre Art Association Art Show & Sale that will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

He will give a talk and presentation at 2 p.m.

The art show will take place at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, 410 5th Ave.

According to a Havre Art Association press release, Yellow Bird signs his artwork using the name Black Pinto Horse.

Yellow Bird is Arikara, Hidatsa and Crow Indian and grew up in the town of White Shield, North Dakota. He now resides in Wilsall, just north of Livingston.

Yellow Bird furthered his education at North Dakota State University, focusing on the education program and in 2002, he graduated from Minot State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Yellow Bird is a man of many talents. He said that he sculpts, does some printmaking, paints and does three-dimensional art.

He added that he greatly enjoys oil painting and that is his “first love.”

Yellow Bird said that many individuals have inspired him over the years and that he began his artistic journey while he was still in diapers.

“My first art teacher was my older brother, Charles Yellow Bird,” he said.

Other individuals who have inspired him include his parents, Magdelen and Willard Yellow Bird.

Yellow Bird said that his mother inspired him to add a spiritual factor to his work and his father inspired diligence, by teaching him to go out into the world and apply things that he has learned.

Yellow Bird said he is excited to come to Havre because he will get the chance to meet new people, network, see different styles of art and learn about where the artists come from.

“We will get to share stories and be a little community with the equalizer being art,” he said.

In addition to running their company, Black Horse Fine Arts, Yellow Bird and his wife, Emily, have many things in the works.

“We are both in the process of writing and illustrating some children’s books,” he said.

Yellow Bird added that both of these books revolve around the notion of morals.

Additionally, Yellow Bird wants to do an exhibition tour across Europe.

For more information on Yellow Bird, visit http://blackhorsefinearts.com.