Artist identified...

     In our September Creativity in the Gorge, Columbia Gorge News published this photo by Gary Elkinton and asked anyone with information on the artist to get in touch.

      Artist Alan Root contacted us after a friend told him about seeing it in the paper. Root said he donated to the piece to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. He also has five in front of The Dalles library, 24 in Mosier, one in front of The Dalles City Hall, six on the grounds of the Balch Hotel in Dufur — and about four dozen more, all donated.

      Root began selling ironcrafts at the Portland Saturday Market in 1977, later moving to Mosier and opening a blacksmith shop, which he ran from 1978-1982. For more information, visit alanrootironsmith.com.

— Trisha Walker