Jerry Casey's metal sculpture
When Jerry Lee Casey died* in March 2008, his dear friends wept. He was a good man. A loving husband and father, a proud grandpa and an all-around good guy. Jerry was funny, smart. He was quiet–A minimalist when it came to words. Jerry was also one of those amazing “fix-it” guys. He had the mind of an engineer, and didn’t hesitate to help folks figure out how to do some curious task.
I had met Jerry as a young woman when I first came to the Sierra Foothills from Los Angeles. Like a lot of “hippie girls” from the 1970′s, I had a little crush on him. Young Jerry was what young girls call “cute.” And he kept that cuteness with a twinkle in his eye, a big joyful grin and an easy-going air. Little did we know back then that Jerry Lee would go on to become a well-loved Mother Lode artist with a special niche: Metal Sculpture using found objects. How did that get started?
In the 1980s Jerry had gotten a job with the Tuolumne County Road Department. He kept finding strange things on the side of the road. And it didn’t take long for this creative fellow to figure out a way to create ART from that junk. Near the end of his life, Jerry was represented by at least four galleries in central California and the Sierra Nevada. He exhibited regularly in the Sacramento area, and was fortunate to have received several worthwhile commissions. One of his lasting pieces is the Snowflake Stair Railing at Dodge Ridge Ski Resort.
We miss Jerry, and hope that you will become familiar and even inspired by this wonderful man. Central Sierra Arts Council and the George Post Gallery are honored to be Jerry Lee Casey’s artistic swan song. Currently we are showing his last works, proof that even those of us who are great are also finite…
Click below to play a YouTube, showing many of Jerry’s metal sculptures. It was produced by one of Jerry’s dear friends…
A friend\’s tribute to Jerry, by videographer \”Gordy\” (RIP both of you guys!)
Jerry will be featured in the window of the George Post Gallery during the month of September, along with photographer Frank Hynes, painter Joseph Glass and jewelry artist Jeane Hicks.
*Jerry was diagnosed with esophegeal cancer in November 2007. Jerry’s wife, Joane, would want YOU to know the symptoms>.