October 26 -- November 6

TARVER! -- The Sculpture of Willie Tarver

Willie Tarver's work is a blend of creativity, experimentation and his Southern heritage.  Some of his work is made of chains, hammers and other old tools given to Mr. Tarver by his father.  Just inside the door of his display room sits a life-size chair with arms made of Mr. Tarver's father's chains.  Various animals in the room have hammers for bodies that also belonged to Mr.Tarver's father.  If you look closely, you can see that the back of a dinosaur is made from a flywheel or the trailer hitches and railroad spikes that are the backbones of Mr. Tarver's creations.  One of his sculptures, a dragon almost as tall as Mr. Tarver himself, is constructed of parts of a trampoline.

Mr. Tarver's work varies largely in size and subject.

"People in cities like New York and Atlanta seem to prefer chickens and iron work to put on their mantles," says Mr. Tarver.  "Customers from Savannah and North Carolina buy larger pieces for their yards like statues."

Although his work is widespread, each piece of artwork is unique.

"I only make one of a kind," says Mr. Tarver.