In the years since I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas in Sculpture, I have steadily worked toward my dream of working in the arts through the medium of blacksmithing.

This quest began when I was growing up, hearing my grandmother tell stories of my great grandfather and his dad working in their smithy making common parts and tools for windmills. My great great grandfather was a pioneer in Mullinville, KS and a well driller who drilled the pilot hole for the world’s largest hand dug well in Greensburg.

Those stories went through my head while I was shaping the metal on the last several bird sculptures at the University of Kansas (where I received a B.F.A.). I believe the inspiration sparked from this process paid off, as I was awarded two scholarships by the Hollander Foundation in 1998 and in 1999. I became more curious about the incorporation of blacksmithing into the artistic process.

I started talking to Richard Gillespie and other professors and people about forging, and Michael Kreuger (a professor) introduced me to a blacksmith who was working out of the basement of his house in KC. At that point, the wheels started turning, and I pursued finding tools and knowledge about forging. That led me to the local Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado chapters of ABANA.

I went to Memphis to volunteer at the National Ornamental Iron Museum’s Annual Repair Days. I saw the large scope of the people that were in the forefront of today’s blacksmithing movement. In the spring of 2004, I studied under Frank Turley in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has been teaching blacksmithing since 1969. While talking with Frank about how a certain element of a three hundred year old gate was made or other things, he would say, “I have a book for you”, and would hand me a book on forged sculpture. I took that as him saying, “That gate has been done before, try a new direction.”

Not too long after that, I went to a Master Blacksmithing class in Carbondale, CO and was offered a job at Royal Forge. I accepted the position and worked there for about a year. The experience I gained was invaluable, and I’ve continued to work with Johnathan doing contract work from here in Kansas. I was drawn to move back to KS from CO. I have done several staircases and other work, and continue to work in sculpture.

I worked with Greensburg Greentown on a found object staircase for an eco-friendly silo home. I also worked with them on a found object bench for the city of Greensburg that has been filmed and documented by the Discovery Channel for their show: Greensburg, that will air this May 4th, 2009.