Jigsaw sculpture

Ashland artist Nelson Davis will be featured on the television program "Oregon Art Beat" next week.

The show features Oregon artists of special note and includes in-depth interviews and footage of the artist at work, as well as a comprehensive look at the artist's creations.

The show will be broadcast locally on KSYS on Sunday, May 11, at 5:30 p.m.

Davis is a longtime resident of Ashland who turned to sculpture after having an epiphany while delivering a friend's eulogy.

He decided to make up for lost time and really start creating the art he loved.

"My art work constantly reflects the events in my life," Davis says in his artist's statement. "The joys of my grandchildren, the grief of death and separation, and the celebration of the gift of having my eyes wide open."

Davis combines his carving talents with "found" metal objects to fashion whimsical and engaging sculpture.

Using found objects, primarily old rusted steel tools and farm implements, Davis adds delicately carved wood pieces to create extraordinary figurative assemblages that are both humorous and politically satirical.

"Metal elements are toys to me," Davis said. "They are jigsaw puzzles of eclectic shapes and textures, begging to be married into understandable form. Intertwining the two elements is the joy of watching how a little God-given inspiration, driven by tons of passion, can connect emotionally to others."

Davis is represented locally by the Hanson Howard Gallery in Ashland and by Northwest by Northwest Gallery in Cannon Beach and he will have exhibitions this year in both galleries.