A miniature world from the mind of Levi Timm
When artist Levi Timm finds a shell on the beach, it inspires a character.
A squid using chopsticks. An oyster boatman.
“When I was a kid, I really loved Claymation,” Timm said, recalling that a childhood neighbor inspired others to make their own clay movies.
Timm said it was a phase that came and went, and he didn’t create with clay again until his partner Meg Angier purchased an earring making kit that contained a bunch of polymer clay.
“It was just laying around and I had some strange ideas to take some shells I had found at the beach and try and make some creatures,” Timm said. “They’ve sort of evolved into what you see today…and people thought they were funny and amusing.”
Timm is currently featured as the January Artist of the Month for the Bay City Arts Center. His displayed collection consists of miniature creatures and characters in terrarium-like environments.
“It’s almost like world-building in a sense,” Timm said. “I think there’s a lot of opportunity to explore different narratives about where the squid [and characters] came from. What’s happened many times is I’ll make a squid or a certain character and then somebody will text me and say, ‘That looks like my coworker.’ They’re very personable and people find them charming.”
Inspired by his time working with an oyster farmer, Timm created a series of mini oyster boats.
“When I was working on the oyster beds, obviously there was an unlimited amount of oyster shells,” Timm said. “The shell sort of inspired the creation. It’s easy to see a half an oyster shell with a nice deep cup and flip it upside down—well it looks buoyant like a boat.”
All of Timm’s creations are unique, handmade, and crafted from oven-baked polymer clay.
“The clay gloss gives it that ‘just plucked out of the ocean look.’ They’re pretty and it makes them shine,” he said.
Last year, Timm taught a clay figure workshop at the Bay City Arts Center.
“I got to make clay with families and kids,” he said. “There’s just something about those physical art, artistic opportunities that you get to use your own hands and craft. I’ve never been much of an illustrator or a painter, but there’s something about the process of working with clay that I find engaging and fun. You start with a blob of clay and then you see where it goes and it ends up looking like something completely different.”
Timm became involved with the Bay City Arts Center after taking one of the organization’s rock carving classes.
“There’s lots of events there,” he said. “They have music, plays, workshops, and featured artists of the month. I’m always impressed with the Bay City Arts Center. It’s a real gem of Tillamook County.”
Timm’s work is on display at the Bay City Arts Center through the month of January and individual pieces are available for purchase. The gallery is free and open anytime during a Bay City Arts Center event. For event hours and listings, visit baycityartscenter.com.
