Is it Craft or is it Art? We Think it’s Both!

June’s Gallery Exhibit is an eyeye-catching display of models built by Craig Torgerson and metal sculpture created by DeWayne Johnson

What do creative thinking, perseverance, application, tiny parts, glue, scrap metal, welders, and grinders have in common?  They all have been necessary for the pieces in June’s exhibit in the Evansville Art Center Gallery!

Creativity in Scale Model

Craig Torgerson is known for his musical talent, having performed at venues all around the area. He has graced the EAC First Friday stage a number of times over the years, most recently on May 3rd. However, he is also an incredibly talented model builder.

Craig has been building models since he was 7  or 8 years old - nearly 60 years of building them, wrecking them and blowing them up!   He has also entered model shows that were pretty prominent “back in the day”. K-Marts, Viking Plaza Mall, and even county fairs had them.

While stationed in the Air Force in Great Falls, Montana, he took “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice” awards for his Kenworth Conventional Truck.  He has also received ribbons for a few cars and motorcycles. In his most recent entry into a model magazine contest, Craig built a Silverado Stretch Limo that received an “Honorable Mention” and had a photo of his model in Car Modeler’s Magazine.

Craig continues building models of all sorts, including models for people who want to give the gift of a replica of a special automobile, airplane, etc. to someone.

Creativity with Scrap Metal

DeWayne Johnson is a sculptor from Garfield, whose medium is scrap steel. His interest in working with metals began in 2001 when he saw standing sculptures of flowers at a garden store. He decided to try and create a variation on the theme of these flowers. This began a years-long hobby of creating in metal.  He uses a welder, drill press, cutter, and 2 grinders to create his sculptures.

In 2017 DeWayne looked at a Gibson acoustic guitar and decided to try and replicate it. He took measurements, created a pattern, cut out the pieces from scrap steel and welded it together. With trial and error he achieved the guitar in about 80 hours of work.  He searches YouTube and other online sources for ideas for projects. 

There are several musical instruments in the exhibit–banjo, mandolin, violin, and a couple of rock replicas. His dental hygienist convinced him to recreate the cleaning tools in steel. He mostly deals in realism but has a few abstract pieces that can also be seen in the exhibit.

The Guys will especially enjoy this Exhibit

This is a unique exhibit, not to be missed! Gather the gals - and the guys for this one - and come on down to take a good look at this most interesting, conversation-starting exhibit.

The exhibit runs from June 1 through June 29. Gallery house are Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.