Where in Ames can one find giant hands made of clay, elaborate architectural designs made from paper and a set of teeth made of sterling silver and corn?

The only place in town with such an extensive display is the Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave.

The Octagon Center is currently holding the 35th Annual “Clay, Fiber, Paper, Glass, Metal and Wood” exhibition, which will be on display from Feb. 7 to March 30. The art pieces have been collected from all over the country, and include artists’ work from Washington, New Mexico, Oregon and Louisiana, says Heather Straszheim, Octagon Center curator.

“We have a total of 54 pieces on display that represent 28 artists from 13 different states,” she says. “This is a great way to see artwork from different parts of the region. There are some beautiful carved maple vessels, a chain-mail neck tie … it’s art that people don’t normally get to see.”

The exhibit first began as a local event, but has been growing and changing ever since, Straszheim says. In 1985 the exhibit grew to include all types of media, and in 1995 it became a national show.

Straszheim says artists from outside Iowa hear about the Octagon’s event through press releases, various art publications and Web sites. Artists ship their pieces to Iowa for the event.

“Pieces from out-of-state were shipped here using crates that often weighed up to a couple of hundred pounds,” she says.

The art is reviewed each year by an independent juror who decides which pieces will be displayed in the show, and which ones deserve special recognition, Straszheim says. The juror this year was Phillip Tennant, professor of furniture and wood design at the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, Ind.

“We originally started out with close to 80 people, representing 17 states,” she says. “The juror doesn’t know where these artists are from, but actually 13 of the 28 selected are from Iowa. We had professors and students from ISU, as well as two people that work at Wheatsfield [Grocery, 413 Douglas Ave.] that made it into the show. That’s amazing, considering the number of people that entered.”

The artwork on display can be purchased through the Octagon Center, with prices ranging from $50 to $5,000. A mixed media piece by New York artist Carole Kunstadt has already been sold, but will remain on display until the end of the exhibit, Straszheim says.

Chris Martin, assistant professor of art and design, won first prize for his entry — a chair made from cherry wood and steel.

“Each chair generally takes about 30 hours to make, start to finish,” he says. “The seat is made of steel, which I designed as well. I’m both a welder and a woodworker.”

Steve Sinner of Bettendorf won second place for his entry of a maple wood vessel, titled “Dancers and Warriors.” Sinner has his artwork on display in half a dozen galleries across the country from Los Angeles to New Haven, Conn. He says he’s been interested in woodworking for years, but has only recently been able to devote most of his time to his passion.

“I read a book about creative wood turning many years ago and I’ve been hooked on it ever since,” Sinner says. “It’s all I’ve wanted to do since then, but I had to have a way to earn a living. Five years ago I resigned from my job at a social service facility, and have been able to take this up as a full-time job.”

Three featured artists will speak about their winning pieces during a gallery talk on March 4. The event is free and open to the public.