Animal skulls medium for hand-carved work by Eureka artist

Eureka-based artist Joe Hickey will be featured at Cawdrey Gallery on Thursday, Sept. 7 from 5-8 p.m. for Whitefish Gallery Nights.

Unlike most artists, Hickey's blank canvases are home-grown from the nutrients and minerals of the Montana landscape. He started collecting animal skulls as a hobby and now hand-carves bison and longhorn skulls into beautifully intricate wall-hanging sculptures and adds paint, stains, reclaimed leather and fur, metals, and stones to make each piece unique and representative of local materials. The artist will be at Cawdrey Gallery in person on Sept. 7 during Whitefish Gallery Nights talking to collectors and displaying his newest work. Light refreshments and small bites will be served.

“As my experience working with bison skulls has grown over the last 10 years, I have tried to take on a more spiritual approach to my carvings. It’s all part of the learning process,” says the artist. In the tradition of the local Kootenai and Blackfoot tribes who carefully used every part of the sacred animals they harvested, Hickey gives these naturally beetle-cleaned skulls new purpose and a place of honor in the home, reminding viewers of the majestic megafauna that once roamed the Great Plains in herds of millions.

When well-lit, the carvings cast fascinating and dramatic shadows. Asked about his inspiration, Hickey says, “Mandala designs, Native American Medicine Wheel and Celtic carvings strengthen the honor of these magnificent animals. My growth, with the tools I work with, have expanded my abilities to create more intricate designs and tell a more powerful story about these amazing creatures.”

A devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Hickey also sometimes paints skulls in the colors of clients’ favorite teams.

Cawdrey Gallery will also be offering 25% off Hickey's original works and 15% off Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey giclée fine art reproductions for the month of September.

Call Cawdrey Gallery at (406) 730-8680 for more information.