EAST GLACIER -- Two bidders, a cowboy and an Indian, quickly drove up the price on a painted buffalo robe Saturday night at the Harvest Moon Ball here.

"Seven thousand, now going eight who'll give me 11?" asked auctioneer Fred Burow. A blond-haired Rusty Garrett calmly tipped his black cowboy hat to signal he was still in the game.

The ballroom audience whooped and clapped their hands. The auctioneer coaxed J.D. Colbert, a Chickasaw/ Choctaw from Denver to bid higher.

The man in the black hat from Tucson, Ariz., ended the duel with a $12,000 final bid, prompting a German woman at a nearby table to joyfully wave her arms in the air. It was Angelika Norman, the wife of Darrell Norman, painter of the buffalo robe.

Some 200 people in Glacier Park Lodge punctuated Garrett's bid with wild applause. But he and Colbert were only warming up, as the art auction continued through the night in "the big tree" lodge where 800-year-old cedar and pine poles soar 50 feet to the wood-planked ceiling.

Garrett and his wife, Mary, were in East Glacier to support dozens of regional and local artists who gathered for the 11th annual Harvest Moon Ball, a project of the Blackfeet Community Foundation, which is working to build a $1 million endowment for community projects.

So far, about $400,000 has been earned through the art auction. Artwork from Saturday's sales raked in $95,000, marking the most successful ball yet for the foundation.

"It's an incredible event for the Blackfeet, and the community, to have a gathering like this in a setting like this," said Byron Mallott, director of the Sealaska Corp. in Juneau, Alaska. "There's a lot of fun that goes into the serious business of raising money."

Founders of the Blackfeet Community Foundation once wondered how they could raise funds for community projects on the Blackfeet Reservation, where unemployment rates can reach 80 percent. The task seemed daunting.

But organizers also knew they had one, undeniably rich resource. They lived in a community of artists, where painting and beadwork had long been a way of life. The late Blackfeet artist Ernie Pepion suggested the foundation host an art auction. Today, money is earned through dinner ticket sales and a 50-50 split on auction items with the artists.

Theodora Weatherwax of Browning counts herself among the ball's annual supporters.

"This is one of the things we look forward to each year," she said, noting the importance of nurturing local artists.

Art aficionados from around the country joined the locals at Saturday night's event. The ball proved so popular this year that some 100 people were added to a waiting list after the ball sold out three weeks ago.

"Every year it gets better and better," said Lyle Omeasoo, a Blackfeet artist. "It really helps us artists get out there and show our work to the community."

Darrell Norman, Blackfeet and owner of the Lodgepole Gallery and Tipi Village in Browning, said many of the artists at the auction have space in his gallery. This year, his business was featured on the "The Today Show," and in Sunset and Travel and Leisure magazines.

"We're proud of the artists we represent and the beautiful work that they do," said Norman.

Mary Garrett, a citizen of the Blackfeet Nation, arrived at the ball with her husband, Russell.

"We love the Indian art and love to see it go as high as possible," said Mary, who is also Blackfeet. "These artists work really hard."

Art is their livelihood, said Russell.

While the Garretts prompted a bidding war for Darrell's painted buffalo robe, the evening's crown jewel a painting by Terrance Guardipee was yet to be auctioned. Guardipee is best known for ledger art, which consists of paintings on old maps, government records and antique paper.

"Everybody brings out the best this time of year," said Mary.

Guardipee, who was born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation, arrived at the ball from his home near Seattle. His painting, "Big Sky, Northern Pacific Railroad," created the biggest stir of the evening.

Once again, Russell Garrett and Colbert dueled through the auctioneer.

As the bid moved past $20,000, Colbert, president of the Colorado-based Native American Bank, started to have second thoughts.

"I looked at my CFO," said Colbert. "Should I keep going?"

She said no.

A few nods of the hat later, Garrett ended the battle with a final bid of $22,000.

Guardipee, an internationally acclaimed artist, was thrilled with the final price.

"I was expecting, maybe, $9,000 or $10,000," he said. "Tonight was awesome because it was in front of my hometown. I couldn't ask for anything more."

Reporter Jodi Rave: at 800-366-7186 or jodi.rave@lee.net.