Jimmy Dale Powers was born on a ranch North of Gage Oklahoma. He attended Gage School for twelve years. He joined the military at age 18, and served for over twenty years.

After retirement from the military, Jim created a scrap metal yard and operated it until federal regulations put the business in jeopardy. Around that time he became interested in art. He had discovered the Little Red School House located at Podunk corner, where Gwen Suthers was instrumental in guiding him into different phases of art; such as Abstract, Non-Objective, and Contemporary. Jim is best known for his sculptures like the famous Jimmy Bird, created from scrap metal.

Jim's work has been shown at the Mabee Gerrer Museum in Shawnee Oklahoma, Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum in Woodward Oklahoma, the Math and Science School in Oklahoma City, the Gallery of Fine Arts in the Mall at Enid Oklahoma, Northern Oklahoma College Performing Arts Center Tonkawa Oklahoma, Redlands Community College Reno Oklahoma, The Museum of the Plains Perryton Texas, Kirkpatrick Galleries at the Omniplex in Oklahoma City, The Leslie Powell Gallery Lawton Oklahoma, The Meade County Historical Museum Meade Kansas, Arts Place Gallery in Ponca City Oklahoma, and at The Metcalfe Museum near Durham Oklahoma.

He has also been featured in seven different countries by Ripleys Believe It Or Not. Some of his sculptures on display around the World include; an Elephant in Seoul Korea, a Buffalo in Copenhagen Denmark, a Dinosaur in Tapei Taiwan, and a Praying Mantis in the Republic of the Phillipines; and of course many Jimmy Birds all over the world.

Jim also assists the Woodward Chamber of Commerce on designs for the Crystal Christmas show of lights. He also likes to paint, but finds his imagination gets the upper hand and consequently, he breaks every rule in the book on what you should and should not do.

Statement About My Art

     To write a statement about my art is like telling someone how much you love them. I don’t quite know why I do this. I seem to need to create as the sun needs to warm, or the wind needs to blow. It feels good and when I am creating, I am in control. The shapes and the space are at my fingertips. I use scrap metals and like to think that I am recycling at the same time. Each time I use a bit of scrap metal, ole Mother Nature and Mother Earth seem to smile on me. And, of course, that makes me feel good about my creations. I like to make things that are large enough to incorporate other things in them. I like to make them enormous because they represent strength. I always have a hard time answering the "why" and "what for" questions. It’s kind of hard for me to answer because I have never thought of myself as an artist. I don’t know for sure, but nothing seems to come out of a book. It all comes from within.

''Jim Powers of Gage, Oklahoma creates GIANT INSECTS, BUFFALOES, LIFE-SIZE ELEPHANTS and DINOSAURS OUT of SCRAP METAL FROM JUNK CARS!''

YOU CAN BELIEVE IT OR NOT!