David Smith

non-ferrous metal

124 Plains Rd

Readfield ME 04355

207.685.9331

ARTIST BIO David Smith sold his shares in a contracting business to develop Skunk Works (named for his very special companion “Lily”, a pet skunk). In May of 1999, David puzzled over how to market his stone, metal, and wire sculptures. He first chose to go the craft fair route. Successes in the “Mile of Art” in Augusta and the United Maine Craftsmen shows in Cumberland had him off and running. His work gained almost instant recognition and is now being sold to gardeners and collectors throughout the country. He also has done design work for the Manhattan high-end jewelry trade.(Bugs enhanced by jewels). David gets all of his ideas from nature. Strolling through the garden, Dave sees many opportunities for design! He will gently peer over a tomato plant to watch a Golden Garden Spider make her web. He is envisioning how to incorporate some of her flashy detail into his next piece of art. He will delicately take apart an iris to observe the intricacies of the petals, and how they are attached to the main stem of the plant. Dave admits a higher power than he was the great designer... He does unite stone, metal, and wire to illustate nature’s true beauty, but sometimes his whimsy causes him to design sculptures such as a “bull” frog which is a frog with the horns of a bull, or a snow flea on skis! Dave describes what he makes as a representation of small flowers or creatures crafted in non-ferous metal. They will provide their owners with a lifetime of enjoyment and whimsy when displayed in their gardens or homes. Each item is signed, dated and serialized and are very easy to care for. They acquire character with age. As Dave is an “Obssessive Recycler”, he may provide some history of the source for the metal along with the sculpture, such as that part of it came from the Kents Hill School dome. He loves copper because it does change colors adding to the strength of the design. Large design peices may be made on commission to provide the perfect accent for a special site such as a garden or pond. In a workshop in Readfield, five miles west of Augusta, Smith makes his magic with metal. His land is surrounded by sweeping views of the western Maine mountains, providing a back drop to his many outdoor sculptures.