DeMenTEd MeTaL

      I grew up on a farm in Central Pennsylvania. We grew corn, alfalfa, soybeans and oats to support the dairy herd and for sale. We maintained the machinery, fixing and often modifying pieces as needed to make it work more efficiently, As a teenager, I occasionally offered what I thought was a better solution to a repair or modification than what my Father was doing. After so many of these offerings, my dad told me to learn to weld, and then I could do things my way. After 8 months of night school for welding, I began to make more and more modifications to the farm equipment. This became somewhat of an obsession for the duration of my career in farming. I was involved in the farm full-time for 21 years before leaving to pursue another career. Left with spare time, I worked in my shop, combining my two favorite things: art and metal. The results evolved over time to include my rather offbeat sense of humor. Encouraged by my nephew, and biggest supporter, Bob Mulfinger, I began to attend local shows and expand the scope of products.

-rZ

ROB FISHER

     As a sophomore in high school, I met the late Rob Fisher, a local metal sculptor whose work graced malls, office buildings and more throughout the country and the world. Although it would be many years before I met Mr. Fisher again, his initial impression and vision of what metal art could look like, has lingered with me most of my life.  Here are two links to some of Rob's work: 

http://www.robfisheramericandream.com/

http://www.sculpture.org/portfolio/sculptorPage.php?sculptor_id=1000080

GLEN DECKER

      Glen Decker ran a welding shop less than a mile from our family farm. When he wasn’t busy with repairs and custom projects for his customers, Glen built the coolest small scale machinery to use in caring for his small farmette and herd of sheep. An innovator and a perfectionist, his creations ran perfectly and were professionally finished, to the envy of more people than he knew. My Dad and I never needed much reason to stop in and see what this master welder was up to.

MY DAD

      Which brings me to Dad. From a tender age, I followed him around the farm, admired the way he worked, was impressed with the professional way he conducted his business and his life. He treated everyone with dignity and respect, and felt he could learn something from anybody. Resourceful and an innovator himself, he gave me the encouragement and freedom to try new things, successful or not, and the wisdom to handle the wins with humility and learn from the losses. And for that, I miss him.