Polish born Waldemar Otto, whose first West Coast showing of bronzes was a total sellout, relies heavily on sentimentality when creating his sculptures based on family ties and religious themes. Mothers and children play, the Good Shepherd carries his lamb, Noah gathers his animals into the ark, etc., all expressed with the solid simplicity and formalization found in much figurative bronze work being accomplished today. When divorced from the anecdotal, Otto also rids himself of some pretty restrictive stylizations, and a few rather hesitant compositions manage to voice statements which are refreshing if not convincing. Sometimes working in relief panels, Otto is on surest ground when dealing with the female torso in the round, and has produced at least one major Seated Figure in this showing.

—Curt Opliger