Bruce Jarrell

Blacksmithing and embroidery are rarely bedfellows. Embroidery is fantastical, delicate needlework, often arranged in improbable yet appealing shapes. Blacksmithing is anything but that. Could one forge iron into delicate forms based upon embroidery designs? In consultation with a master embroiderer, the artist has created a series of iron sculptures. New ideas from embroidery abound in the sculptures; unique elements, mounding at the base, tree-of-life forms and linen backgrounds. Crayon finishes were placed on iron to match the highly colored needlework. New methods were developed to forge small flat and hollow iron into flowers, fruits and whimsical forms, making a treat for one’s eyes.