Richard Wehrs, an artist from Peoria, IL (and formerly of St. Cloud) creates faces and figures out of clay. His colorful, whimsical characters are sometimes cute, sometimes creepy, and often a blend of the two.  Either way,  they always have an amusing backstory.

“Making up the titles is nearly as fun as making the pieces,” Wehrs says. “The titles add important context for understanding what’s going on in the work.”

Wehrs finds his inspiration from a variety of sources, ranging from 1960s and 1970s B-movies, with space aliens and other creatures, to real-life recollections of growing up in Minnesota.  More than anything, all are reflections of a playful, if technically proficient, approach to working with clay.  Zombies and monsters, princes and birds, many of his subjects could be illustrations for made-up fables.

“It’s all just playtime for me,” Wehrs says with a smile. “I’m a kid in his 60s, still messing with Play-doh.”

Storytelling with clay seems like a natural fit, as Wehrs is also a longtime Lutheran pastor who uses stories extensively in his sermons.  He served a number of congregations in central Minnesota over the years, which makes returning for this show especially fun for him.