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Tales Of “The Watcher” With Artist Jim Collins

WUTC

Published October 4, 2021 at 9:47 PM EDT

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A “Watcher” in the Hunter Museum’s collection.

The Hunter Museum

(aired Thu 9/30/21)

Around Chattanooga, perhaps you’ve seen a sculpture of the Watcher - maybe near the entrance to the Hunter Museum, at the Edwin Hotel or Sculpture Fields at Montague Park.

Jim Collins - now 87 - created the series of Watcher sculptures found here in Chattanooga, around the Southeast and all the way to Ireland.

He crafts the sculptures out of stainless steel, aluminum and other metals - often in color, usually in silhouette.

Besides his sculptures, Jim’s many talents as an artist include drawing, collage - and decades of breathing life into the design and placement of public art around this city for generations to come.

You can see some of Jim’s work through tomorrow at Ruffner Art Advisory on E. 5th St.

Last week, I spoke with Jim - and Elizabeth Ruffner, the Advisory’s founder.

Jim Collins

collins3d.com