Walt Horton Sculpture

How do you measure a year? Is it in the days or minutes of a week, a month? Or is it in shared memories, smiles, tears and laughter? It is hard to believe that it has been a year since artist, sculptor and friend Walt Horton passed away.

"Every day spent in his gallery is a day that is spent with Walt," said Julee Ketelhut, Walt Horton Fine Art gallery associate. "When you are surrounded by the works that came from his two hands and his unparalleled imagination, you don't feel as if your good friend Walt is gone, rather that he is just somewhere else at the moment. You catch yourself smiling at something new you just discovered in a piece or laughing out loud when you read a silly title."

In this past year, Walt Horton Fine Art has continued Walt's dream of having visiting painters and sculptors in the gallery. On a regular basis, you can find an artist working on something in the gallery.

"We have had children walk away with a smile because they got to help paint on a real piece of art or sculpt a great masterpiece with one of our guest artists," Ketelhut said. "In those moments, you can feel Walt smile. He loved children most of all."

The last pieces Walt finished creating before he passed away are now cast and can be found in the gallery. Two of the favorites are "Orphans" and "African Repentance." Peggy, Walt's wife, has written a wonderful book called "Sculpture and the Art of Being." It is an uplifting and fun account of Walt's journey as an artist and the stories behind some of his most cherished works.

Today, Jesse Horton, Walt's son, will be in the gallery working on one of his own sculptures. Come by, say hello, and share a story or two. Bring your kids; Jesse will have plenty of clay.

"Even if you did not have the privilege of meeting Walt, it is well worth stopping in," Ketelhut said. "His pieces are extraordinarily entertaining and we promise that you won't leave without a huge smile."