David Norrie Metalworker and Sculptor

Metal sculptures are not all cast. There are sculptors who use a torch to meld pieces of metal together to create their work.

Metalworking can include torches, welders, and forging tools. Yes, forging, as in anvil and hammer and the old blacksmith.

One local sculptor, David Norrie, uses both hand and pneumatic forging hammers--over 150 of them altogether.

He first learned about the art of blacksmithing at 18 in Canada, where he was born. Like most of us, he thought blacksmithing was about creating functional items, and so that is how it all began.

His viewpoint shifted at a conference in 1978 where he learned about metalworking as an art form. He still creates some functional pieces, like staircases, but also creates pieces that are purely aesthetic. While the forge was his first love and he still uses it for the majority of his work, he likes to push the limits and try new things and see what he can make the metal do.