Thanks to the generosity of our guest artist, 40% of sales from this exhibition will be donated to the art museum; which may be tax deductible for those who purchase artwork during this show.
Your contribution helps the Filley Museum accomplish our mission and serve our community. By purchasing artwork during this show you are donating funds that will go back to the community in the form of services that the art museum provides. Some of our programming includes school and educational tours, art classes, exhibits, lectures, and unique art based events.
This page will be updated periodically so be sure to visit again!
November 6th to December 4th: Dick Bixler; Metal Sculpture Exhibition
Dick Bixler: Biography and Artist Statement
Bix Metal Art Work
Welcome to Bix’s Metal Art Work. Our desire is for each of you to be drawn into an artistic experience, which will allow you to slow down your busy schedule and focus on where each piece is taking you. Bix’s Art is designed for you to escape, dream, enjoy, and reflect on your priorities in life.
Bix’s Art Work has been influenced by our desire to assist people in all walks of life. In 1989, Bix started World Patent Development Company with the focus to invent, design, engineer, develop, fabricate proto-types and not only have the final product but to have a patent on the invention.
Over the years we have established 12 patents and still more are on the way. In 2014, we received a patent on a mobile disability hunting blind to attach to a 4 wheeler, snowmobile, or wheelchair. In June 2015, we received a patent on a heating and cooling safety device for comfort and safety to be incorporated in a wide range of transportation vehicles from automobiles to farm tractors.
Our patents and artwork are two completely different areas, but in our situation the patents have influenced our artwork and our artwork has influenced our patent work.
I live with my wife in the county on the edge of Pratt, Ks. We enjoy country living by taking long walks in open pastures while talking with our horse. We love watching beautiful clouds and sunsets, and soaking up the nature all around from the wildflowers to birds and animals native to our area. Country living has a calming effect, which inspires our artwork. Hopefully our artwork will inspire you to find a calming inner self that has been covered up by the hustle and bustle of a self-made busy world. Our art pieces are here for you to refocus your priorities and your appreciation of life and find what each of us can offer others in life.
Every one of our pieces of art starts with raw metal. We want all of our art pieces to be unique. We don’t use patterns, jigs, technology, or other’s ideas or work. As an example: when making a leaf, each leaf starts with a piece of flat metal, a pattern for each individual leaf is hand drawn (with chalk on metal), then cut out by hand, and heated until red hot. Next, a hammer and chisel or plasma cutter is used to edge the veins into each leaf, then the leaf is ground, buffed and finally the single leaf is attached to the stem. Art is what we put into it and what we can take away from it.
We strive to put our heart and soul into our art. Our desire is when you really look into our different works you might see what is meaningful to you. When you view our bald eagle, perhaps you will soar high with your desires, thoughts, and adventures in life. The bald eagle does not let everyday pressure control his destiny. In the Filley exhibit, you will see our old one room school house sculpture with the teeter totter and tree, which could inspire you to reflect on how free spirited and fun it was to be a child in generations past; maybe you will focus on the importance of fun and a free spirit now and at any age.
When you look at our stairway art for example, which will be part of the Filley exhibition, you can see any person’s life has steps. Sometimes the steps are narrow. Sometimes they are broken on the way up to each of our goals and happiness in life. But look deeper. The door is open at the top, but sometimes we get tired, or physical issues slow us down. That’s why we have a handrail in life also reflecting that we have someone to help us. It is also important that we can help others climb the stairs of life and opportunities. You now have some background to come view this sculpture in person at the Filley Art Museum.
Our vases for instance remind us we are unique and even if we are broken we can have reinforcement from family and friends to hold up our structure. Vases are designed to hold the everyday beauty of life.
All of our artwork is much more than handmade unique pieces. Our artwork is made to remind you each day of the unique, one of a kind qualities each of you possess. Hopefully, Bix’s Art Work will inspire you to find happiness in the great qualities that you have.
Bix’s Art Gallery, P.O. Box 315 Pratt, KS 67124