Following the opening of the “2 Men, 3-D” exhibition at the Johnson Center for the Arts on Wednesday, an artists’ reception was held for local sculptors, Larry Godwin and Duane Paxson, Sunday afternoon at the arts center.

Richard Metzger, Johnson Center executive director, said the reception was well attended as friends and colleagues of both artists and members of the community took advantage of the opportunity to view the exhibit and talk with the artists.

“Everyone was impressed with their work,” Metzger said. “The exhibit is stunning and it’s fun to see so much sculpture by two very talented, local artists.”

Godwin is a native of Brundidge and Paxson, of Comer, Ga. is originally from Troy.

“Larry Godwin is an Alabama treasure and Duane is pushing the limits and boundaries and will soon be a treasure,” Metzger said. “The work of both of these artists is incredible.”

Metzger said of all the arts, modern sculpture is his favorite medium and art form.

“For the Johnson Center for the Arts to be able to offer this much sculpture and sculpture of this quality is a tremendous joy for me,” he said. “There is something for everyone to like. Some sculptures may not be understood readily but, with some thought and contemplation, I think most viewers will understand what the artists are tying to communicate.”

The “2 Men, 3-D” exhibit will run through July 23 and then the museum staff will need two to three weeks to de-install the exhibition and install the fall show, which is always the largest of the year.

“The biennial exhibition, ‘Celebrating Contemporary Art: The Nature of Being Southern’ will open in early August and will feature 60 or more Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellowship award-winning artists,” Metzger said. “The state arts council began giving these fellowship awards in the late 1990s. Two years ago, the Johnson Center exhibited the work of 45 fellowship award-winning artists and the show was extremely popular. Based on the success of the exhibition, we decided to feature the fellowship award winners every two years.”

For now, everyone is invited to view the “2 Men, 3-D” exhibition at the Johnson Center for the Arts on East Walnut Street in downtown Troy.

Center hours are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday.