My name is Anthony Frey, and I am a metal worker. Metal bends by imposing my will upon it, Hammering can alter the material, through skilled actions I can make the metal look the way I desire. There is a visceral thing in making metal do what you want it to— turning a flat sheet into a bowl or canister, a still bar can be formed into a knife or even molten metal can be molded into the shape you want.

Metalworking is a hot, sweaty, and long process, requiring significant amounts of heat. There is also a danger involved in working metal. A person has to realize this, learn how to be safe, and at the same time be willing to ignore the danger to achieve the desired end result. Moving such malleable objects to one’s will is empowering. If they are willing to the the work, a skilled artisan can make elements in whatever shape desired, utilizing advanced techniques and heat will create something uniquely yours.

These pieces required physical work and skill. The techniques were presented in different class levels. I constructed these artifacts to demonstrate the various techniques and prove to myself my continued improvement. I will always be my biggest critic, by reminding myself of the flaws left in the end product. Some of the products demonstrate one process alone, while others demonstrate a combination of different techniques. The results are all items that I have learned from and am proud to have finished.