Veteran local artist John Lawler will join his son Aren, a Portland-based artist, for the new exhibition. Lawler helped to start UWEC’s graphic design program.

If John Lawler were to describe himself in a general way, he’d say he’s a designer. But perhaps you know John for his unique sculptures. In that case, you’re in luck because John and his son Aren will be displaying their artwork at the Janet Carson Gallery starting October 25.

John’s life as an artist began as a young kid, when he got a lot of encouragement from family members and other people in his life. He says he started creating art because he was “better at that than anything else.” It really began to take off when he served in the United States Army in the 50s.   He says, “They saw abilities in me I wasn’t even sure I had.” He then was put in charge of 36 other artists serving in the military at the time to create models and do other work that required a creative edge.

Lawler creates found object sculptures, using pieces of metal or other materials that were left on the sides of roads or otherwise abandoned, to make artwork that tells a story.

John obtained an MFA in Sculpture from the Pratt Institute in New York in 1967, after he finished his military years. He then taught art classes in New York and was a freelance artist for a time, before being hired to teach a class on commercial art here in good ol’ Eau Claire. The single class eventually expanded into the school’s Graphic Design program in the 1970s – the first program of its kind in any public university in Wisconsin. He wanted to teach design, and no one else was doing it, so the time was right to get it started. For a while, he taught all the graphic design classes at UWEC, until the department began to hire others to help.

So you’re probably wondering, what is his artwork like? Lawler creates found object sculptures, using pieces of metal or other materials that were left on the sides of roads or otherwise abandoned, to make artwork that tells a story. He tries “to find things that fit together or make them fit together.” His artwork has evolved over the years, yet has remained continuous in its general objective and form. Wherever he’s living at the time influences his artwork, as well as the kinds of objects that he finds. One thing that has stayed steady in his work is his “constant attraction to things that have been affected violently.”

John has gone in quite a few directions with his artwork, including designing architecture and interiors of buildings; he’s also built a few of his own places. He lived in Scotland for three years, working with photography in the Scottish landscape. In 1974, he started his own graphics and advertising business called Greendoor Graphics. He sold it in 2003, but it is still operating today.

At the upcoming art show and Artists Reception on October 25 from 6 to 7:30pm, 25 of John Lawler’s pieces of art will be displayed, all fresh from the last few years.

Sharing the gallery space will be works fashioned by his son, Aren. Aren is 47 and has a BFA degree in art from UW-Eau Claire. He started making sculptures in college and creates pieces from discarded materials that he welds together. The gallery was Aren’s idea, but John was quickly on-board. “I’m flattered and very pleased to do this,” said John. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

John’s sculptures reference his personal history, either abstractly or through a narrative. Aren, on the other hand, explains his sculptures and non-functional machines as an attraction toward underappreciated, forgotten objects that hint at false memories for a history that never happened.

If you can’t make it to the Artists Reception, never fear (though you might miss out on the refreshments). The artwork of the father and son duo will be on display in the Janet Carson Gallery after the reception until November 30, from 9am to 4:30pm every day.

The exhibit runs at the Janet Carson Gallery at the State Theatre, 316 Eau Claire St., from Oct. 25-Nov. 30. For more information, go to EauClaireArts.com.