“I am fascinated by antiques because they are like a history lesson,” says Karen Monaghan of Whitefish. “They can tell us how people lived in the past.”
This weekend, Monaghan parlays her love of antiques into producing the eighth Big Sky Antique Fair at the O’Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center. Starting Friday evening, 19 dealers from as far away as Texas, Utah, and Oregon bring select antiques to the three-day fair.
“This show is strictly antiques,” says Monaghan, noting that she screens items. “You’ll find many pieces of furniture and small collectibles from well over 100 years old.”
Monaghan’s invitation list draws on reputable dealers and their high quality antiques. Several dealers specialize in local interest items—Glacier Park memorabilia and Great Northern Railroad collectibles and calendars.
Karolyn Grimes will be selling autographed movie memorabilia. As a child actor, she worked with film greats such as John Wayne, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, and Jimmy Stewart, but she is most known for the role of Zuzu Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Other antiques include Victorian silver, majolica and cast iron figures and doorstops, antique western and Native American jewelry, sterling and turquoise, American country primitive furniture and folk art, ancient ship wreck Roman and Greek coins, art pottery and glassware, linens, quilts, salt and pepper shakers, vintage kitchen collectibles, Chinese antiques, rugs, prints, and postcards.
The Evening Gala kicks off Friday with live music and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m. The $15 tickets with early buying privileges are sold at the door. The fair continues June 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and June 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for Saturday or Sunday costs $5 per person. All events are open to the public.
“We have a good representation of antique goods at this show,” says Monaghan. “There will be something for everybody!”