Alva Review-Courier -

Tall and lanky with flowing white hair and mustache, Dick Bixler could be an old west gunslinger. Instead Bixler uses his hands to shape metal into art with meaning.

The Pratt, Kansas, resident used to live in Woods County and renewed his acquaintance with several locals during the First Friday Artwalk May 4. Bixler and his wife Nancy live on a farm where his studio is also located.

"Our horse comes right up into our studio to say 'hi' and of course, wants a little bit of grain," he said. "Nancy and I have a golden doodle (dog), and he's always up there welding in the shop with me."

Nearly lif...