Last year Plaza Diane Center for the Arts leaders approached artist Chris Ivanoff about bringing in some of his sculptures and furnishings for a three-dimensional show; something new for the downtown Powell gallery.

"We had been in consultation with him about doing a show this spring, talking about displaying some of his sculptures out on the plaza, as well as some pieces inside the gallery," said Plaza Diane Coordinator Ashlee Ganoung.

But then Ivanoff, 65, unexpectedly died this past Halloween, shocking the community who knew him as a physically fit former deputy sheriff, martial arts instructor and business owner. At the time of his death, many were surprised to learn Ivanoff was an accomplished artist, creating sculptures by utilizing his Northwest College welding education and love for the natural world.

But Ganoung and Plaza Diane Board President Shelby Wetzel refused to give up on the idea. They sent a message to his old account, hoping to hear from family.

"I just left messages on Chris' phone and sent messages to his email saying, you know, this is strange, but if anybody is monitoring this, we would still love to be able to honor Chris' memory and make him be part of a spring show," Ganoung said.

Without a reply for weeks, she had given up hope, but then Ivanoff's son Lucas reached out and began a dialog. Eventually they scheduled time for Lucas to travel to Powell and help select pieces for the show.

"Never in a million years did we imagine that it would become a memorial show," Ganoung said.

In his words prior to his death, Ivanoff said his inspiration comes from the region's beautiful farmland and rugged mountains.

"I see beauty everywhere," he said.

Ivanoff began his career training as a welder at Northwest College. But he soon became burned out working in the industry and started using his skill to create art. Many of his sculptures are fabricated from recycled farm and oil field machinery. His art came from his type-A personality, he told the Tribune in 2025.

"I don’t really enjoy watching TV that much … what gives me satisfaction is just accomplishing something,” Ivanoff said, adding, “Everybody’s got the ability to accomplish something.”

After securing Ivanoff art for the show, the board decided to add other artists to the show with the concept of "working hands," Wetzel said. "It's working hands. It's handmade, all from artists and craftsmen, whether it be wood, leather or metal."

In their search they found Powell artist Jerry Johnson, who works with natural woods from various habitats surrounding the Big Horn Basin. He isn't widely known; he doesn't even have a website.

It was a chance in encounter while working a winter job doing manual labor for Roger Rousu, artist and longtime owner of a bronze foundry in nearby Cody, that opened Johnson’s heart to art. Rousu took him under his wing, teaching him everything he would ever need to know about casting bronze sculptures. But Rousu’s advice was more than just learning technique. For the first time in his life, Johnson had met someone to help him uncover his suppressed artistic creativity.

Johnson has never had an art class and never thought about being an artist until fairly late in his life. He was born on a ranch in North Dakota and faced challenges that have molded him, his vision and his desire to seek time in the wilderness. He was raised to be practical and art didn’t fit that mold. However, after meeting Rousu and learning how to make his own molds, the flood gates opened. Years after making his first sculpture — a longhorn steer resting in a pasture for which he won an award — Johnson decided to paint.

“I learned oil painting by watching Bob Ross on TV,” he said.

He didn't start creating his unique art pieces until 1986. Johnson, now celebrating his 75th year, will have bronze sculptures, home furnishings and decorative skulls he either hand painted or dipped at the show. He prefers to spend his time in the mountains looking for interesting pieces of wood and antlers for art projects, watching wildlife and making memories while spending his time with his family, friends and Bear, his loyal and wonderful dog. This will be his first ever show in his hometown.

Also featured is contemporary western furniture maker Scott Armstrong, who creates his pieces out of his Arrowleaf Studio in Powell.

Armstrong has been designing and building furniture for almost 40 years, in styles ranging from traditional to contemporary for both private and corporate customers. He continuously works to improve his designs in a way that better reflects his personal and family history of living and working in Powell. He strives to blend his contemporary sensibility and his experience of a western lifestyle with the traditions and environs of this beautiful place.

He describes his creations as unique functional pieces of furniture with personality.

"Working on the premise of building on the past to make contemporary pieces of exceptional quality, using time tested joinery with traditional and modern materials," he explains on his website. "I strive for excellence in craftsmanship as well as the design of each piece."

Contemporary design means something you haven't seen before, in form, shape, or in the combinations of colors and textures, Armstrong said. Design of a piece is the blending of form, function and aesthetics. Function being the most important, then form, and lastly ornamentation. The three must blend seamlessly to create something that is both familiar and surprising.

"I strive for excellence in craftsmanship as well as the design of each piece," he said.

The final artist for the show is Mark Barcus, owner and operator of Cow Camp Saddlery in Cody.

Barcus' art often comes in the form of useable leather products, but you can't look at one of his creations without realizing he is more than just a craftsman. The art is visible in every detail and his pieces are sculpture that just happens to be useable. He also runs a leather-working school at his studio. He has been working with leather all his life, starting with horse tack.

Barcus was part of the ill-fated Scout Saddle Company internship program at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West prior to it closing before graduation of the first four interns when former Center CEO Peter Seibert moved back East.

"I have followed his career for several years, because it blends nicely with my lifestyle," said Ganoung, who spends her free time in the saddle. "He attended one of our opening receptions, and he was very interested in participating with the plaza. So we're very excited. He didn't feel like he had enough items to do a solo show, so we felt that it would be good fit to fall in with the woodworkers and the metal workers."

The opening reception is 6 p.m. Thursday evening at the gallery and runs through May 16. For more information: plazadiane.org.