Job, as in the Bible Job...

The work on Job demanded patience, as flattened tapers are not as easy as they look.
hand forged from canadian steel, finished with black graphite encaustic patina. stands over 26" tall.

Another Divine Dichotomy

ANOTHER DIVINE DICHOTOMY
Forged from 1 1/2" steel on KURT the Little Giant that lives in the garage.
measures 38" long. wall hung.

forging change dishes..

Enjoy this little video starring Holly, Pete, and Zack.

Our very first (and very loud) Aluminum Pour on New Year's Eve, 2006. Join us this New Year's Eve for our very first IRON pour.

Join us, call to reserve your spot today! Possibly the most refreshingly unique and awe inspiring experience you'll have this year.
(You might impress your date as well!)

NEW YEAR'S CAST IRON WORKSHOP: New Iron in the New Year
Fri, Sat, & Sun, Jan 4-6
Join us for a very special weekend as we start 2008 with Smartshop’s very first iron pour! Help us recycle a half ton of scrap iron by melting it down & turning it into new grey iron castings, new sculpture, and a new experience together. Most materials & safety gear provided. Leather work boots & natural fiber clothing a must! Bring a sack lunch & lots of drinking water. Workshop meets 6-8 pm on Friday, 9am-5pm on Saturday, & 9am -4 pm on Sunday. $375.00 per student prior to December 23, $395.00 late registration. Materials: $6.00 lb Iron (over 10 lbs) $.30 lb resin sand (over 20 lbs). 4 students min. 8 students max. Instructor: JC Christy

Inside the Shop

Enjoy an interior view of the main shop space at Smartshop, we also have a Smithy in the south end of the building and a casting studio downstairs. Along with our Gallery, there's ocver 12,000 square feet of creative space! Did I mention our shop is very well organized, incredibly clean, and VERY SAFE? it is! I hope you'll get a chance to visit soon and see for yourself.

International Exchange

My friend and fellow Blacksmith, Kim Saliba of Ontario is helping me demonstrate the essential beauties of "Team Striking" at The Quadstate Blacksmith's Roundup in Troy, Ohio. September, 2007.

Pouring Molten Aluminum

Just in case you'd like to experience this for yourself, our talented foundry instructorr, JC Christy will be happy to show you the way. Call the shop to sign up for your own adventures today! (269) 345 - 7285

Beginning Aluminum Casting

Winter II Dates: Dec 4 thru Jan 8
Winter III Dates: Jan 15 thru Feb 5

Meets on Tuesdays, 6:30-9 pm for 4 weeks
Instructor: JC Christy
Classroom: Lower Level
Students will learn the basics of mold making for the foundry, as well as foundry safety & molten metal handling. Embrace the fundamentals of mold making, design principles, & pattern creation while you carve a variety of beautiful designs onto pre made resin bonded sand molds. Students will make a “Doodle” bowl, a light switch cover, & a block tile inscribed with a variety of unique designs. Safety gear provided.
Experience Level: Novice to Intermediate
$195.00 10 days prior to start date, $215.00 late registration.
Materials: $3.00 lb aluminum (over 6 lbs) $.30 lb resin sand (over 20 lbs)

Buy Local Art, Avoid lead poisoning this Christmas Season

TOO MUCH LEAD IN YOUR TOYS?
Here at Smartshop, we produce one of a kind metal objects d'art, art that won't kill you!
Everything is made right here in the good ole' U.S. of A. by well cared for and happy staff members.
You need not worry about negatively affecting the global economy by buying your christmas presents at Smartshop, as we're putting every little bit right back in to our community.
And best of all, NO LEAD, just beautiful non-toxic steel, aluminum, bronze, and iron.

Jane Irwin drew this for us.. enjoy it? checkout Jane's REAL work at: http://www.vogelein.com/
Local Art: ITs good for everybody!

WHAT'S AN ANVIL CLOUD?

Want a Holly Fisher of your very own?

Perhaps you're ready to aquire a future heirloom, a one of a kind, custom designed, last forever kind of thing. If you'd like to commission a work of art, piece of furniture, architectural element, mantle, chandaleir, etc. from me, here is a brief outline of how my business is structured.
If, after seeing the kind of work that I do, you are interested in discussing a project that you have in mind, whether large or small, please give me a call or send an email if you prefer. If it sounds like something we would both like to pursue then I will ask for a design retainer to cover my time in producing a sketch or even a sample for larger works. Once the design, (which remains my property, as does a sample) and the price are agreed upon, then typically a 50% deposit is made with the balance being due when the metalwork is completed. All bids and estimates are good for thirty days. Some larger commissions, such as railing or gate projects which can take months to build may be done on a simple time and materials basis rather than a fixed price, though an estimate can be given. Other arrangements may be made by mutual agreement.
Its simple, and you can have a tailored, american made hand forged steel piece for your home too!

EVERY DAY IS A HOLLY-DAY!

ARC ANGEL BY JANE IRWIN! THANKS JANE! SEE more Jane at: http://www.vogelein.com/

Why not give somebody something really cool and heavy this year? We've got all kinds of great original art for your pleasure and amusement this holiday season. Please feel free to stop by and have a cup of cider with us.
Smartshop's Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden are open on Thursdays 12-7p, Fridays 10a-7p, and Saturdays 10a - 7p.

What its all about..

To Be of Use

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

Marge Piercy

Working Pony, Playing Pony

Partners in Crime

Meet Scott Lankton, Artist Blacksmith from Ann Arbor, MI. A.K.A. Lanktonium, Mr. Wilson, Slanky, and so on..


Meet JC Christy! Artist, Sculptor, Foundryman, teacher, and prize fighter! Jc Teaches all of he foundry classes and some of the blacksmithing classes at The Smartshop Metal Arts Collective!

Ponies for Everyone!

"Parared Ponies" by Holly Fisher
"Parared Ponies" is a two piece steel sculpture and each pony stands 17 inches high at the head, and is approximately 20 inches long. Together they stand with noses together, enjoying a peaceful moment in the pasture. Finished with a beautiful red enamel.
Win These Ponies!

And help Holly Fisher get to the American Craft Council's flagship show in Baltimore.

Great news! Holly's work has been accepted for exhibition in the American Craft Council's flagship Baltimore show-the largest indoor juried show in the country! Holly & Rachel will be traveling to Baltimore in February for this 6 day wholesale/retail extravaganza.
In order to raise funds to help us get there, Holly has chosen one of her favorite pieces she's created this year to raffle off to you!

$5.00 per ticket or 6 tickets for $20.00. Stop by the gallery to check the Ponies out and get your raffle tickets.
We're open Thurs. 12-7pm & Fri. & Sat. 10am-7pm or by appointment.
You may also call Smartshop @ (269) 345-7285 to purchase tickets by credit card over the phone.

Raffle will be drawn on Friday Dec. 7th @ 9pm during our 'Season Show" Arthop.

Important Notice: This raffle does NOT benefit a non profit. It benefits Holly Fisher & her career as a practicing artist.

Thanks for your support!

Read Holly's blog -The Adventures of Anvilgirl for updates on her career and work as well as her unique personal perspective as a professional artist, teacher, and founder of Smartshop

Chasing Rainbows

PONIES, HORSES, DONKEYS AND MORE!

“Sweet Dreams,” is a finalist in the 2008 NICHE Awards competition in the Recycled category! Niche received more than 1,100 entries this year, and it is truly an honor to be selected as a finalist.



THESE WORKS OF ART ARE A COMBINATION OF FORGED ELEMENTS WITH FOUND OBJECTS.
I REFER TO THE CREATIVE PROCESS UTILIZED TO MAKE THESE AS "ABSTRACT ANATOMY STUDIES".
ENJOY!

"SWEET DREAMS" STANDS 24" HIGH

Hand Forged Black Beauties!

Kalamazoo's First Cool Cities Winner!

2003 COOL CITIES WINNER!
SMARTSHOP IS PROUDLY LOCATED ON THE NORTHSIDE OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN...SMARTSHOP HOUSES AN ART GALLERY, A METALWORKING SCHOOL AND A SCULPTURE GARDEN. ENJOY, PURCHASE AND LEARN HOW TO MAKE METAL WORK! CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN WELDING, BLACKSMITHING, CAST ALUMINUM, BRONZE AND IRON! find out more at www.smartshopkalamazoo.com

GOVERNOR GRANHOLM'S COOL CITIES INTIATIVE MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR EVERYONE!
Kalamazoo County is already benefiting from Michigan’s Cool Cities Initiative grants program for economic development and more jobs, which was introduced in 2003. Cool Cities are places where talented and imaginative individuals find places to work and to enjoy the benefits of rich cultural, social and recreational opportunities. Kalamazoo has an abundance of these ingredients that are already combining for an outstanding lifestyle. Community leaders and business owners agree on the importance of attracting and encouraging young adults to reside, work, shop and help create the Cool City in which they live.


516 East North Street After Renovation


516 East North Street BEFORE Renovation

THE PEOPLE I LOVE BEST!

To labor is to pray.  ~Motto of the Benedictines


A lot of what passes for depression these days is nothing more than a body saying that it needs work.  ~Geoffrey Norman

God sells us all things at the price of labor.  ~Leonardo da Vinci

Work isn't to make money; you work to justify life.  ~Marc Chagall


It is necessary to work, if not from inclination, at least from despair.  Everything considered, work is less boring than amusing oneself.  ~Charles Baudelaire


When I work I relax; doing nothing or entertaining visitors makes me tired.  ~Pablo Picasso


There are moments when art attains almost to the dignity of manual labor.  ~Author Unknown

People love chopping wood.  In this activity one immediately sees results.  ~Albert Einstein

As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey.  ~Thomas A. Edison


Sweat silently.  Let's have no squawking about a little expenditure of energy.  ~Martin H. Fischer


It is better to wear out than to rust out.  ~Richard Cumberland


Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it.  ~Lord Acton

Thank God every morning when you get up, that you have something to do that day which must be done, whether you like it or not.  Being forced to work and forced to do your best will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle never know.  ~Charles Kingsley

”When people honor each other, there is a trust established that leads to synergy, interdependence, and deep respect. Both parties make decisions and choices based on what is right, what is best, what is valued most highly.” --Blaine Lee

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die.
Daniel Burnham

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.
Thomas Jefferson

My ability to concentrate and work toward that goal has been my greatest asset.
Jack Nicklaus


He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much.
Elbert Hubbard

People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.
Vincent T Lombardi

Our forbears worked hard this difficult land, and their reward was the freedom and independence of self-sufficiency.
James H Douglas

A job is something we do to get a pay cheque and pay our bills. Jobs are legitimate, at times, but work is why we are here in the universe.
Matthew Fox