Shaping metal into meaningful art

 

Dick Bixler

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 life-size heads of horses and bears by Bixler are displayed on easels at the gallery while smaller pieces such as an old schoolhouse and a church building adorn tables near the front windows. The art will be on display during May at the Graceful Arts Gallery.

Bixler's art is intricately detailed, and he coaxes subtle colors from the metal with the careful application of heat.

Describing his work, Bixler says, "Everything we make has a purpose and a meaning or we don't make it." He illustrated this with the one-room schoolhouse metal sculpture. "You think back of all the people that have gone through a one-room schoolhouse. They're doctors, they're lawyers, they're politicians ... and the sincerity of people and the value of education."

Asked who usually buys his metalwork, Bixler said, "You never can tell. It changes; it's mainly just people that love art."

People can contact Bixler at his website: dickbixler.com. He said a lot of his work is featured at the Vernon Filley Art Museum in Pratt, and he encourages people to check it out.

Locally, the Graceful Arts Gallery in Alva will exhibit Bixler's work during May.

 

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