A crocodile poses by the ART sign at Churchill School. Several other metal structures are on display in front of the historic school.

BAKER CITY — It’s hard to ignore the metal creatures.

It’s not common, generally, to see a giraffe on Main Street.

Or a crocodile slithering down the side of a building.

Then there’s that elephant outside North 7 Brewing …

The African animals in Baker City — and several in Halfway — are courtesy of Jeff and Susan Jentzsch, founders of Art Roamers, which represents African artists. Their mission is to connect artists with a wider audience by bringing the artwork to America.

Their process is explained like this: “Art Roamers assesses each market and fairly compensates the artisan for their work. We also strive for consistency so they can provide for their families, and follow their passion.”

The artists they represent can be found at www.artroamers.com/artists. The animal sculptures placed around downtown were created by Samuel, who lives in Kenya.

The best way to see the sculptures is up close so you can check out the details — like eyelashes, or the “hair” of the gorilla. It’s an easy walk around downtown Baker City, where residents and visitors alike are often seen posing with the creations for a photo.

Another spot is Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St., where the African animals inhabit a sculpture garden in front of the historic building.

Beginning Oct. 1, the sculptures will begin migrating to Court Plaza in downtown Baker City, near the Art Roamers shop.

“They’ll be hanging out there for about a month,” Jeff Jentzsch said.

The animals are usually stored for the winter, and migrate out into town the next spring.

The Art Roamers shop, which is usually open on the first Friday of each month, will be open additional days October through December. For updates, check Facebook, www.facebook.com/ArtRoamers.

The metal sculptures are for sale. To inquire about purchasing, call Jentzsch at 208-312-9500 or email him at artroamers@yahoo.com.