Folk art usually brings to mind carved wood or quilted cloth. But
folk art in metal has an equally long history and astonishing
variety. You’ll be able to take in this profusion of creativity in
copper, iron and steel at Catskills Folk Connection’s exhibit “Folk
Art in Metal,” beginning Saturday September 3 at Hanford Mills
Museum’s Feed Mill gallery, 51 County Route 12, East Meredith, NY,
13757. The next day, Sunday, September 4, there will be an artists’
reception at 1:30 pm. And on Saturday, September 24 several of the
artists will demonstrate or present their work at the Museum’s
Exploration Day.
"Forest Litter", a wall piece by Mark Swanberry
Coppersmith Mark Swanberry took part
in Catskills Folk Connection's first sculpture exhibit in 2019, “Folk
Art in Stone,” but since then has immersed himself in making copper
into naturalistic forms. Inspired by three generations of creative
people in his family, he shapes the copper into leaves, nests, bark
and other forest litter that he has seen on his regular woods walks.
For the title panel of this exhibit he is bringing a large wall
hanging in copper of a carefully stacked woodpile.
Hand Forged Whale by Lucas Novko.
Lucas Novko is a blacksmith that you
may have encountered as an interpreter of historic blacksmithing at
the Farmer’s Museum and at Hanford Mills Museum. “While
my work is based on historic pieces and I try to keep
to certain ironworking traditions, it is still me making
the
decision (or even making aesthetic decisions on a
whim while I'm forging) that fulfills my own sense of creativity.“
While he makes carefully crafted reproductions, Lucas will also
display some of his original contemporary pieces.
Modernist Chair, fabricated in steel and kevlar by Michael Radu
Michael Radu comes from an artistic
Romanian family that moved to the US when he was a child. He joined
his father in operating a foundry to cast art and architectural
commissions, but moved to the Catskills to raise his family and
create his own business. His original works are mostly in steel, and
in other metals, and are a surprise as folk art because they are
consciously mid-20 century in style. His chair and side table, as
well as his sculpture, would fit into the 20th century glass houses that
epitomized the modernist style.
Musician Figure, made from musical instruments by John Jackson
John Jackson did not anticipate being
captivated by metal fabrication until he found himself already
entranced by it while travelling and visiting an artist who showed
him a few of his techniques. Since then self-taught, Jackson has
become a prolific creator of figures in metal, but metal that comes
from a surprising source: discarded tools, equipment, household
utensils, and musical instruments. While he makes outdoor sculptures
primarily of animals, his collection of figural sculptures includes
mostly two-legged creatures in amusing poses and activities: most
memorable are the figures made of musical instruments and ones of
musicians playing musical instruments.
Whirly Gig, made from VW Beetle part by Hans Hohn
Hans Hohn spends most of his energy
in his career as a car mechanic, skills he initially gained from his
father who started the business. Hans would tell you he is not an
artist, but there are surprising things around his shop that show his
tendency to make intriguing things. In the Catskills Folk Connection
exhibit will be whirly gigs made from Volkswagen Beetle parts. For
the rest of his creations pause on the side of Route 28 in
Margaretville to see his business sign, made from half a VW Beetle.
You may also be able to see a customer waiting area made from the
back seat and back end of a Beetle. If you can look more closely
(don’t block the business driveway!) there are on office doors Hans’s rope and
pulley door closers, with weights also made from VW parts, simple
enough to be a modernist design.
For exhibit viewing, Hanford Mills
Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am through 4 pm. The
address is 51 County Route 12, East Meredith NY 13757. For free
admittance to the exhibit, go to the Admissions Office. You may also
wish to participate in Museum tours of water-driven wood-working
machinery and an overshot water wheel, for which admission is $9.00.
Consult the Hanford Mills Museum website for numerous discounts. For
more information about tours call the Museum at 607-278-5744. For
more about the exhibit “Folk Art in Metal” contact Ginny Scheer
at gscheer.mcs@gmail.com.
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