Artists challenge sculptural stereotypes

Look for glass combined with metals, clay mixed with kevlar and recycled materials, wood united with metal and more.

Curator Jim Diem reflected, "I am really excited to organize such a dynamic show. One measure of art is how well it engages the viewer. Mixed media automatically gives us pause because it doesn't fit into preconceived notions of sculpture as only metal, clay or stone. Add content, kinetics, humor and aesthetics and you have art that demands our full attention. Combine this with the experience of four very talented artists and you have all the ingredients for an amazing show. This is a great opportunity to see a body of work from some of our hometown art stars. Come and see it -- I promise you won't be disappointed."

Mosier artist Higgins has over 45 years as a professional artist, has been awarded 39 public art commissions and has had over eighty solo shows since 1969. Higgins' work for this show will include several kinetic and interactive sculptures.

Richards of Underwood has exhibited regionally, nationally and internationally, and has been commissioned for art projects throughout the United States. His work is represented in many national collections and has been published in Architectural Crafts, Better Homes and Gardens and American Windsurfer among many others.

Richards says the following about his artistic process, "A spontaneous reaction to a controlled concept with uncontrolled results appeals to my sense of adventure; constantly requiring fresh input. The greatest work arrives as a surprise to myself, emitting the best cerebral rush."

Herrera also of Mosier works playfully in fine art often incorporating visual and literal puns in his sculpture. His sense of humor is immediately apparent in works like "Taco Bell."

Trained as an industrial designer Herrera's experience in sculpture runs the gamut from museum quality fine art to handrails in custom homes.

His sculpture is in the permanent collections of Google and Maryhill Museum among many others.

Nelson, as the junior representative of the group, is humble about his expressive work. "I love to fish so it seemed natural to begin crafting steelhead and salmon sculptures from scrap metal and copper."

Nelson spends half the year in the Gorge sculpting and the other half in the remote Alaskan wilderness fixing bush planes and catching fish.