Marsha Trattner Trattner
[1987, MFA Sculpture]
Based in Brooklyn, NY
I make hand-forged steel home objects. Some pieces, as in the bowls and lamps, are made of an accumulation of forged pieces. Each piece, even in series, is made one at a time, and created much like a drawing in space. I hand hammer the metal to give it form and texture, and then weld parts with a torch to give visual flow to the pieces. To make pie pans and pizza pans, I hand-cut steel plate into circles or ovals. Then I forge (hammer & shape) the metal at 1800 degrees around various forms to create the desired depth and shape. Forged handles are welded to some of them. No two are exactly alike and viewers/clients respond to having choices in form and texture and finding that special one!
How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?
RISD gave me my first exposure to torch work, although I did not realize at the time it would function so fundamentally in the development of my work and daily practice.
More intrinsic perhaps is the exploration of drawing- line, building spaces, finding a methodology of creating, that developed and cemented itself while I was RiSD. This is because the RISD Sculpture MFA program allows this exploration without needing to compartmentalize the arc of thought and action.
What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?
Drawing is the basic and the foundation of all my work.
I love working with other artists and my students as there are always new conversations. Developing custom pieces for clients is my favorite activity, in that we come up with the unexpected: a new work that is unique to the collaboration, and only exists because of combined ideas and serendipity.
If I am feeling stuck in the studio, I start where I left off. Just the act of doing, of initiating action, oils the rusty parts! And look at artists work that inspire me.
Is there a work/body of work that you are particularly excited about sharing with us?
I have some public pieces: New York City Department of Sanitation garbage cans (see above image).
“Progress Pavillion” Project for FacebookNY in conjunction with International Women’s Day
Any recent press, exhibitions, achievements or awards you’d like to share with us?
Press:
- Vogue Magazine: my stair bannister made for Cynthia Rowley
- NY1 Television Feature with Roger Clark
- Popular Mechanics: feature on my studio, and workshops I offer
- Japanese TV: “Made in NY”
Exhibitions:
- “New Art from an Old Craft at Gallery Flux”, Ashland VA, in conjunction with the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America
- “Material Matters” at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition.
Plus, I recently taught bartenders to make bar spoons at my studio, in collaboration with American Craft Council and The Balvenie.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I have a new studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn!
To see more of Marsha’s work, visit she-weld.com
