'Life is a Stage' exhibit to open Saturday

The Art Spirit Gallery will open its October exhibition, “Life Is A Stage,” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 E. Sherman Ave.

"Life is a Stage" bids farewell to the final works from the studio of Mel McCuddin, along with new works by artist Chris Bivins.

"The exhibit celebrates the two talented artists as they set the stage to entertain and captivate their audience with the fun-filled, creative and sometimes mysterious works," Gallery owner Blair Williams said.

The first 20 people through the door Saturday will receive a complimentary set of Mel McCuddin playing cards, featuring 52 different images of his work.

Mel McCuddin

Almost seven decades ago McCuddin began his artistic career. According to the artist, most relate to politics, human actions and relationships.

“In general, my subjects are inspired by human experience, both good and bad, as it offers an endless source of material,” he said in his bio in a press release from the Art Spirit Gallery dated Sept. 30.

Chris Bivins

Chris Bivins has been making art of one kind or another since his brother taught him to draw with ‘smelly magic markers’ in their basement in Alaska. His figurative sculptures are a brooding bunch that appeal to his darker side.

He combines twigs, vintage finds and newer materials like polymer clay that become heads, arms and legs. It all comes together in a modern-day-folk-art kind of way.

“I really enjoy seeing the artistic opportunities in disparate objects and like the challenge of combining them into a cohesive whole — the alchemy of changing one thing into another,” Bivins said in the release. “I think that over 30 years of experience as a graphic designer helps immensely with this process, with putting together a puzzle of sorts and deciding what objects and materials best convey the idea that’s lurking around in my head."