Creating an art exhibition has proven to be therapy for an artist who recently made Albert Lea his home.

Rick Mammel will have a show at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, 147 N. Broadway Ave., from Nov. 21 through Dec. 21. The show is made possible by an original works grant through the Minnesota Arts Council.

Mammel’s show is titled “Life in the Mississippi,” and includes a number of large-scale oil paintings.

The artist said his show has been influenced by Samuel Clemens’ “Life on the Mississippi.”

Mammel moved to Albert Lea in July 2007. A few months later, when recuperating from quadruple by pass surgery, he learned he had gotten the grant for the show and painting began in earnest.

“Creating this is great therapy for me,” he said.

He’s been slowed a little by a stroke on Sept. 14, but with therapy is pushing forward.

Mammel was born in 1945 in Fargo, N.D. At an early age, he said he started copying prints out of the family Bible. “My sister taught me linear perspective when I was in kindergarten,” he said.

“As a kid I was influenced by Gandhi and Einstein,” he said.

Mammel completed his undergraduate studies in 1967 at Moorhead State University. He received his master of fine arts degree in 1970 from the University of Montana at Missoula. While there, his studies in ceramic sculpture were focused under Rudy Autio — now affectionately called one of the 20th century’s three “clay revolutionaries.” (Peter Voulkos and Jim Leedy, also Montanans, complete the trio.)

Mammel worked as a professor of art and art history for more than 30 years, most recently at Quincy University in Quincy, Ill., before retiring two years ago.

The artist has shown in various national and regional competitive shows, invitationals and solo exhibitions.

He and his wife, Marie, had explored most of southern Minnesota in May of 2006.

“We were struck by the sheer beauty of the landscape here as well as the beauty of Albert Lea. We also found then, and certainly still, the people to be good-natured and remarkably good-spirited. We have generally been met with such remarkable kindness by people throughout this little city,” Mammel said.

“It’s a beautiful place,” he said. “It’s like being on a retreat every day. It’s nice and quiet.”

The couple decorated their home with his paintings and sculptures. The living room is filled with multi-fired sculptures, including “The Swimmer,” “The Veil,” and an homage to Jackson Pollack.

In his artist’s statement, Mammel wrote, “Central to my sense of mission is my concern for art mirroring humanity, as was Mahatma Gandhi’s concern for science reflecting humanity. My works tend to be ceramic figurative narratives, at times metaphorical, at times confrontational. My narratives tend to remind my audiences of our follies, an appeal for us to strive to become what we claim to be, and sometimes alerts to what we are perhaps becoming. Naked aggression in the form of the wanton destructiveness of wars, emotional damage, and our continued destructiveness toward the environment, are a few examples of themes providing ample exploration. These themes take shape primarily in ceramic sculptures — as well as drawings, graphics and sculptures in various media.”

Mammel said the artists who influenced him came out of World War II, hence he enjoys commenting on politics and being a social critic.

“Some of my works many say step outside their propriety,” he said.

In addition to art, Mammel enjoys fly fishing and ties his own flies. “I’m hoping to do some of that,” he said. He also has some ideas for patenting sailboats.

Mammel’s show will be open when the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center is for events, or by appointment by calling 377-5046.