Sparkle and Rust: Copper Fire Meets Scrappalachian Metal Work

When I first started making jewelry six years ago, I loved the sound of my hammer on the anvil so much that I designed my logo around it. Recently, fellow metalsmith and jewelry artist Amber Crouse gifted me a sculpture by Greg Tune of Scrappalachian Metal Work. Devastatingly, Greg passed away suddenly in October leaving behind a wife and three young kids, as well as an impressive artistic legacy. Since this particular piece is close to my logo design and also bears useful prongs for hanging jewelry, Amber snagged it for me at an art sale of his work to benefit his family. I especially love how this functional hunk of rusty metal stands out from the wooden elements of my display, contrasting with all the shiny, pretty things. It seems to announce what I already know to be true: no matter how much sparkle I make, there is always a natural process at work to reclaim a shiny thing back to the earth.
“Death is rarely welcomed. For those who grow old, frail and sick, acceptance of the inevitable is, perhaps, attainable. For those who are young, vibrant, at the top of their career, giving to others and growing a family, death is a bitter ending to a seemingly unfairly abbreviated life. Such is the case with Greg Tune.” – Knoxville Urban Guy, Inside of Knoxville blog
The rugged rustiness that characterizes Greg's work is a great reminder to me of the scrappy, rugged path so many artists have walked. I didn't know Greg personally, but the blog post link above and the bio on Greg's website offer some details about the passionate, adventurous artist he was.
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Abram Hanford of Architectural Antics rocks out with several of Greg's instrument-themed sculptures.