Years ago, I came across a large metal sculpture made with rusted steel banding in a florist shop. The piece, resembling a giant corroding chessboard, had a powerful effect and I wanted to create something similar. It was a mysterious coincidence that not long after that I came across discarded metal banding by the railroad tracks. Years of rain, sun and soil had given their surfaces a naturally deep rust and patina that seemed irresistibly beautiful to me. I made three pieces from that pile of twisted metal and my work in metal sculpture and metal weaving had begun.

Working with metal continues to hold a special attraction for me. I have exercised my artistic energy in many other areas, in and out of doors. I have been an avid ornamental gardener in landscape construction. Working with soil and working with metals have similarities. Like soils, metal can be altered and shaped. Reshaping to fit your needs and artistic ideas is not easy though without imposing various forces. Forces, when working with metals that include heat and the impact of a hammer are part of the appeal because of the way the metal reflects those events.

The initial focus for my sculpture was outdoor garden settings where natural elements weathered the pieces and incorporating them into the setting where they were placed. As time has passed, I have also made pieces that work in more protected and indoor settings.

I have been working primarily in metal for just a few years, and many of the pieces photographed here represent the first and, sometimes the only example of a particular direction or idea. In this collection I can share the full gambit of my exploration as well as my development as an artist to date. I believe the pieces reflect the energy and excitement I feel when I work. Similarly, I want the work to reflect the struggle of the initial idea as it travels through the hands and out into the metal. I often feel a spark of magic as the metal leads me into unforeseen discoveries. As I yield to its strength, it yields to mine and the partnership produces new surprises and fresh ideas.

I love to work in metal, and I owe a great deal to the focus that 'weaving' provides me. The goal of my art is to please visually. I want my work to entice your eye into enjoying the earthy complexities and designs again and again each time you see them.

Tom L. DeHoog, Metal Weaver & Metal Artist