Beautiful Together: Collaboration of Wood and Metal

Artists and artisans sometimes need reasons to dig deeper into the craft that they love, and that sustains them and their families.  Once the artisans have mastered the everyday intricacies of their work, it can be easy to get busy fulfilling orders and losing the time and energy to dig deeper into new avenues and creative touches.

Last year, an interesting project came to us by way of Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom (www.salmonfallsgallery.com).  We are not new to this gallery, having had the privilege of showing some of our work there, and were excited when they came to us with a project for a gallery show:  the collaboration of wood and metal.  We were excited to say yes.  We had teamed up before with local Colrain, MA woodworker Al Ladd (www.alladd.com), and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to deepen that relationship.

Al is a talented woodworker who makes a variety of different handcrafted wood products, brilliantly using unique and colorful types of wood in beautiful combinations.  His wooden jewelry boxes are breathtaking! 

For the collaboration, they crafted four pieces: a writing desk, a wall-hung jewelry box, a cutting board, and a wall-hung wine rack.   As they were creating the art pieces, there was a steady stream of communication back and forth, and an excitement in Justin’s step as he would head out the door to run something by Al, or Al would stop by to see progress on the parts Justin was working on.   

Watching these talented artisans work together to create these stunning combinations of wood and metal was such a privilege.  The way they communicated, encouraged, and pushed each other was a lesson in how we can all be better when we work together.  In speaking with both Al and Justin, they expressed how wonderful it was to work together, and the value of assignments to stretch us and open up new creative paths.  Al was surprised at how he often reaches for wood to fill out certain hardware, when metal might really be a more appropriate option.  Justin enjoyed the warmth and depth that wood offers, and the contrast in color for the pieces.  It lends a versatility that you can’t get from using just metal.  As you can see from the photos, everyone benefits when artisans collaborate! 

The writing desk, with cutting board displayed

 

The Art of Teaching

The Fall season is upon us.  It's official!  The nights that are no longer just cool, but cold, the tinges in the trees that are turning to actual color (I saw some brilliant red on my way home last night!).  The dinners that start to turn from beautiful grilled summer bounty to soups, stews, and squashes.  It is in this beautiful season of turning inward that kids go back to school, vacations slow down, and we spend more time inside, creating different things, learning, and growing.  It is the same each year at Morrell Metalsmiths. Although we do occasionally run summertime classes, the cooler evenings of the fall are perfect for firing up the forges and passing on the knowledge of blacksmithing to those in our community looking for an outlet for their creativity. 

Our master blacksmiths, Leigh and Justin, teach the classes.  I see on their faces that they look forward to fall and beginning new sessions of classes, meeting new faces and new challenges as they all learn together the art of blacksmithing anew.  It starts with the basics:  how to stand, how to swing the hammer, how to be safe.  Then the sparks fly as the shapes begin to form into something recognizable:  a point, a hook, a fork.  There is technique and form, and still an awe of how metal can be shaped and formed in a new way.  It is amazing that the students come in, most barely knowing how to swing a hammer when they first darken the door, and by the end of just 6 sessions, they have made pieces that are recognizable and usable!  They also have a working knowledge that will allow them to continue growing and learning on their own until the next level of instruction.  Many set up forges right after their first class and continue practicing and learning on their own. 

The process of learning, especially a craft, is one that opens so many doors and allows for a unique creative outlet.  It is one that is a privilege to watch happen at Morrell Metalsmiths, and part of what makes life as an artisan so fascinating and inspiring. 

The Metal Tree

A staircase that looks like a tree?  Yes!  This beautiful tree project came to us in 2008, and remains the largest scale job we have accomplished to date, and also the most challenging and one of the most exciting. 

When ideas first pass by Leigh and Justin, they are not usually in a final form, or even necessarily a “go.”  Designs evolve and come and go over the course of a project.  With this project, however, there was little hesitation after we said it was possible.  The client’s excitement and momentum remained after they saw the sample tree, and then it was a full-scale design/build project.  Meaning we need to build this tree, rather quickly, to fit the specs of the room, but also so that it could be disassembled, carried into the house, and reassembled.  For all of these factors and more, we knew it was time to bring in some other local talent. 

For the two and a half months (2000 man hours) it took to problem solve and build this tree, Bob Compton of Rising Sun Forge, and Ned James lent their amazing talents to this project.  The collaboration with these blacksmiths was another exciting aspect to this project. By the end, even with all their different styles, they had formed a cohesive team.   Some of that feeling, I believe, comes through in the final project.   

After all these hours, weeks, and months, of working together, of planning and nit-picking over every minute detail that would create the over-all picture, the moment of truth arrived, the installation.  This was no easy task, and took 170 man hours to install.  All the planning, trouble-shooting, and designing paid off.  It fit perfectly, and reassembled nicely in place.   

The weeks and months after this exciting project were hard, as so much time, energy, problem-solving skills, and creativity were poured into the project day after day.  Justin, for one, says it was the first job he’d had where he felt a deep sense of let-down after.   Understandable…just look at that beautiful piece!

The Project

It seems as though most years, somewhere between Halloween and Christmas, we end up with an epic project.  I’ve begun to look forward to this time of year, not just for the festivities, but for the creative projects and fascinating people it will bring our way.   This past year was not a disappointment.  With a pretty full calendar already, in walked a delightful and very motivated couple.  They had a house that needed some finishing touches, and they were hoping to have the pieces in for Thanksgiving.  Could we help them out? 

We looked at the schedule, penciled them in, and got to work on the design details of the chandeliers and fireplace screens that they needed.  What fun and beautiful designs that flowed out!  Our designs are almost always a true collaboration of our blacksmiths and our clients, and this was certainly not any exception.  This couple had a wonderful design sense.  The chandeliers ended up with some gothic torch inspirations, and the fireplace screen looks like it was always meant to be there.  

As we head from summer into fall, I am looking forward to seeing what this year’s epic project will be.  This business is so full of creative twists and turns!