It has been said that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” in Andy Shoemaker’s case that statement could not be more accurate. Self-described as a semi-retired, heavy industrial mechanic Shoemaker has been welding, hammering and making metal since age 19. Throughout his career, he has worked for Green River Steel, Hydro Aluminum, AK Steel and now a private contractor. But it wasn’t until eight years ago, when he created a metal bird for his wife as a Mother’s Day gift, that he realized he had talents beyond his trade.
“After I made that bird, I started to have more time on my hands,” Shoemaker said, adding that he began to see metal for what it could be, rather than what it was.
Shovel heads that had broken away from their handles soon took on the features of human faces, while spark plugs and odds and ends silverware pieces were soon transformed into small garden insects. Eventually, his imagination took over and old mufflers, tire chains, and rusted metal or cast iron baking pans transformed into torsos, arms, legs and decorative accessories.
“I didn’t understand the term when somebody said, ‘That piece is talking to me,’” Shoemaker said. “It’s taken me a while to figure that out.”
Shoemaker said he happened upon a glass cornucopia at a Goodwill store that “spoke to him.”
“This piece here — I didn’t know at the time was talking to me,” Shoemaker said. “I took it home, and all at once it came together — and said that’s a witch’s hat, that’s what that is.”
Shoemaker created the green-tinted Wicked Witch for the Wizard of Oz, as well as co-stars Scarecrow and the Tinman. While the Wicked Witch has already been sold to a good home, the other members of the cast are currently residing at The Spot Coffee and Finery along with an entry wall full of Shoemaker’s Medieval Man Studio creations.
While he often has a vision for certain pieces, an item as simple as a butter knife can serve as fingers for one of his characters or can be used to create a paddle wheel on the back of a hand-crafted steamboat. The addition of welding spackle and wire adds a texturized, three-dimensional feel to many pieces, taking the shape of tree roots or spelled out words.
A lot of his pieces he said, are influences of his childhood, whether it the be his love of bluegrass music that influenced the creation of the metal members of the “Soggy Bottom Boys,” or the peace signs and swing sets that have been influenced by his love of the 60s and 70s.
Shoemaker said people often offer to donate discarded items to his home or The Spot, so he recently created a “Recycle Man” that stands in front of the coffee shop with a bucket accepting donations.
“You never know what’s going to be in there,” Shoemaker said. “There’s an ice cream scooper in there right now,” he said of the bucket’s contents.
Aside from creating items from found treasures and his own interpretations, Shoemaker also creates commissioned pieces and special orders. He said there have been several requests for him to take a grandparent’s old tools or sentimental item and make something special out of it.
While Shoemaker said he has never really considered himself much of an artist, he has learned to embrace his talents in “found metal art.”
“It’s kind of new to this area — this kind of thing’s a little strange — different,” Shoemaker said. “But I really enjoy doing it more than anything.”
To see more of Shoemaker’s work, visit his Facebook page.
