Two traits that may distinguish humans from other species are our sense of self — of identity, and our understanding of our own image.

Identity and image are the subjects in surprising ways of "Image — Identity: Looking for Who We Are," a two-man show by photographer Bill Westheimer and sculptor Larry Dell currently at the Valley Arts District’s IronWorks Gallery.

On view are both a large selection of Westheimer's diptych hand portraits and Dell's wall-hung, abstract sculptures that imagine a family the artist never knew he had. 

The two highly regarded artists have devoted years to their respective crafts and establishing their identity as artists. Each has exhibited widely and often; Westheimer has also published many books and Dell has also curated shows. Their most current projects have attracted both media attention and a steady stream of admirers — the show’s Dec. 16 opening reception brought out an enthusiastic crowd of viewers. There will be a closing reception on Saturday evening, Jan. 21. 

For the past few years, each artist has been exploring root questions about image and identity. For Westheimer, the subject is hands; he has taken 150 extraordinary hand portraits. "I love to take portraits; to portray the lives people have lived," Westheimer said, adding, "I am very contrary, I have to go about it differently."

Westheimer worked with subjects both in and outside the spectrum of the art world. It is a collaborative process. First he takes an image of the person's dominant hand, then subject and photographer create a silver gelatin photogram. Each subject contributes a handwritten, short statement that becomes part of the final image: "I put permanent marks on other people’s bodies," wrote John Lewis, a tattoo artist. 

Westheimer is technically contrary, too. The portraits are made with 19th century collodion wet-plate techniques.

"It reveals the tonality of the skin differently than modern methods," the West Orange-based Westheimer said. Accompanying the exhibit are "MANUAL: The Personalities of Hands," which includes 70 of the 150 portraits and "MANUAL," a limited edition, handmade book including 25 of the portraits. 

Curator and Valley Arts District Executive Director Lorena LaGrassa spoke about the origins of this show, "I have always wanted to do a show of Bill’s hand portraits ... It’s a very powerful subject. I paired him with Larry, an artist with the same intensity."

A few years ago, Maplewood based sculptor Larry Dell, 63, along with his wife artist Jane Dell and elder daughter Amanda were going through papers at his mother's Stuyvesant Town, New York City apartment. They discovered a New York State name change document. Larry Dell was born Louis Roth; a maternal aunt and subsequent documents confirmed that he was adopted at birth. 

Dell's mother would often talk about the heat of the summer and day of his birth. "'August 18 was the worse of the worst, a real scorcher,' she would say." Dell continued, "As family stories go, it was a good one. The only problem was as far as my mother and me it wasn’t true."

Dell began working for adoptee’s rights to know. He has been working through his feelings and questions through his art. 

At IronWorks, the riveting foam rubber "Family Portrait," recreates his last known contact with his natural mother, the moment of his birth. In "Ghosts," a series of sculptures made of chicken wire, fabric, large sheets of cellophane, steel wool and paint, Dell constructs the relatives he has never known. The works are both ethereal and concrete, magically creating a sense of distinct personality in this aunt, that cousin. 

The closing reception for this haunting exhibit promises new surprises. Westheimer plans to set up a digital photo booth to take pictures of people's hands; the images will be posted online after the show. Maplewood based artists Mikel Frank and Gerard Amsellem will be videotaping and interviewing people for "Visual Passion: On Love," an ongoing, collaborative installation project which explores views of love. 

The IronWorks Gallery is at 406 Tompkins Street, Orange, NJ in the Valley Arts District of West Orange and Orange. Open by appointment, call (973) 674-0183