Stefan Savide’s “Home is Where You Find It” portrays a life-size bantam hen who has taken up residence in a beat-up bucket.

An award-winning bronze chicken sculpture inspired by nationally known creator Stefan Savides’ earlier work as a taxidermist is included in a show at Jacksonville’s Art Presence that includes 18 of his works.

Savides’ show will run until Sept. 5 at the center, 206 N. Fifth St.

The artist’s “Home is Where You Find It” portrays a life-size bantam hen who has taken up residence in a beat-up bucket. A separate chick is placed just beyond the bucket.

“Pretty much the focus of my life has been birds,” said Savides. “When you do taxidermy, you get to take them apart and put them back together. It’s pretty much a study in bird forms. You get to know them well.”

Savides has won national awards for his sculptures and has displayed them in numerous juried shows and exhibitions. He first gained renown as a taxidermist. He has previously served as a judge for both art and taxidermy shows, and has also been an instructor.

Savides, who lives near Klamath Falls, transitioned to sculpting about 15 years ago. In the 1970s, as a taxidermist, part of his income came by mounting chickens and then placing them in boxes, nests and other settings. The pieces were a lucrative sales item.

Savides had mentioned doing a chicken in bronze, although he concentrated mostly on wild avian species ranging from hummingbirds to eagles. Last year, one of his employees reminded him of the chicken proposal and he decided the time was right.

The result was selected by the National Sculpture Society of New York for display in its 89th annual show, then in the Award Winners Exhibition after being named recipient of The Andres Harve Award of $2,500.

Like most of his pieces, “Home” is one of an edition of 35 that is cast and finished. After the final piece is finished, the mold is destroyed. So far, about half of the edition has sold.

Savides became interested in birds at a very young age when he would wander down an alley to check out neighbor’s chickens. His mother encouraged his interest in the natural world. She was an artist whose path was a major influence on the sculptor. He took a taxidermy class at 12 and was teaching at 16.

When he turned 18, he headed to Tulelake, California, a bird-hunting mecca, where he worked in taxidermy seasonally. In 1981, he took up residence in Tulelake and set up a taxidermy shop.

Savides sculpted birds in wood earlier, and he also used knowledge acquired in taxidermy to create interior armatures sold by a Salem company that were used to support the wings and other parts of mounted birds.

About 30 years ago, Savides bought 8 acres south of Klamath Falls. He built a studio and foundry and rebuilt a home that was there. He also installed a half-acre pond on the property that attracts waterfowl.

“Everywhere I go, I’m looking at the birds that are there. They fascinate me,” said Savides. “People have been birdwatching for a long time. Folks don’t say, ‘I’m a mammal watcher.’”

Other pieces in the show are a kingfisher titled “All Catch and No Release,” and a golden eagle titled “High Power.” Both are life-sized. There are also miniature pieces in the show.

The smallest life-sized avian sculpture in the show is a hummingbird, which is dwarfed by the tree branch on which it sits. It’s the last remaining piece in the edition.

“The sculpture is not just about the bird, but it is also about the environmental composition,” said Savides. “In some pieces the bird is an accessory, in some it is the major focus.”

“The hummingbirds we have done are immensely popular,” said Savides. The one on display is his fifth rendering of the tiny avians. Kingfishers, wood ducks and quail are also popular. Many of his subjects are North American birds, but he has also traveled to Africa to observe species for sculptures.

Besides his life-sized and miniature pieces, the artist has created larger sculptures for public installations in Oregon, California, Nevada, Missouri, South Carolina, Illinois, Wyoming and New York.

Member Artist of the Month during the show is Walt Wirfs. He is a painter who works in oils and collages. The show’s sponsors are Dancin’ Vineyards and Jones & Associates: Premier Financial Solutions.

Summer hours at Art Presence are Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information about the venue can be found at art-presence.org.

Savides’ website is stefansavides.com.