Metalsmith BenchTalk on BlogTalkRadio with David Huang

My Guest on the Thursday, March 24th episode of MetalSmith BenchTalk is metalsmith David Huang.

For examples of David's work, see: http://davidhuang.org. To learn a little more about David - in his own words:

"I don’t think of my vessels as being an expression of my voice alone. Rather I see them as the product of a conversation among the tools, materials, and myself in search of beauty. As my real desire is to achieve a timeless beauty, one individuals from any point in history might connect to, it makes sense to be listening to the voices of simple but timeless tools. The humble hammer is my prime tool. I supply the power and it bends, stretches, compresses, and moves the metal according to the particular shape, weight, and hardness of it’s head. The forming stakes I work upon offer their strength to resist the hammer, and their curves to impart a controlled form. The voices of the hammer and stake are a harmony that work best together.

That primal elements known as fire and water play a critical role in creating the vessels. They’re transformative, changing the structure of the metal. Fire is my tool for softening, making the work more malleable, or even liquid in the case of soldering. The quenching in water sets this new state and brings the temperature back into the range human hands can tolerate.

I see my role in this to be providing a conscious order, orchestrating the mix of voices, hoping to present a work we as humans can appreciate. It is my desire to bring about works that don’t just symbolize, but actually evoke feelings of beauty and joy."

Join us at blogtalkradio.com/whaleystudios for what should be an educational and enjoyable conversation.