Steel Tree: hand forged steel, 77″ ht x 31″ diameter, Meg Thompson, 2011.
This fall I finally finished the Steel Tree I started a few years ago. It began as a coat hanger. But as I hammered the hot square metal into textured tree bark, it quickly became clear it was going to be more than a coat hanger. At the ends of the branches I drew out the metal into curled leaves. I then encouraged the piece to develop a rust film in places to give some depth of color to the steel. Finally this fall I finished it with a rub-in metal oil. Available: $1900