OSKALOOSA —
This metal artwork is in tribute to Oskaloosa’s rich musical history.
The Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development Group has commissioned New Sharon blacksmith Phil Hebert to create a number of planters. Powder coat work on the planters is being completed by Ron Spurlock of Hedrick.
The profits from these planters, which will be for sale through the chamber, are slated to help maintain the flowers on the Oskaloosa square, said OACDG Events Coordinator Karen Hafner.
Hafner explained that Hebert’s involvement with the Fine Arts and Cultural Events of Mahaska County organization is what brought his blacksmithing talent to the chamber’s attention.
In proposing the planter idea to Hebert, Hafner said it was clear that the planters should incorporate a musical theme in tribute to Oskaloosa’s history of music. This past summer, the 100th anniversary of the city’s bandstand was recognized over a series of concerts put on by the Oskaloosa City Band.
So far, the planters have popped up at places like Bank Iowa and Mahaska Drug, noted Hafner. There is also one inside the OACDG office, she added.
The planters will be available for both businesses and residential property, said Hafner. Those interested in the planters, which come in both small and large sizes, can call the OACDG at 672-2591.
Late last week, Hebert discussed the planters project in his New Sharon blacksmithing shop. He said that when he was asked to do the planters, he was simply told to incorporate a musical theme. From there he began making the 3D trumpets and tambourines out of metal that appear on the planters. Hebert noted that working with metal this way is very different from simply cutting a design out of a flat piece of sheet metal.
Hebert noted that Vance Alexander, a former industrial arts teacher in New Sharon, helped out with determining how to accomplish the planters project.
For the past 15 years, Hebert has been spending his spare time working on various blacksmithing projects, many of which have been private commissions from people he knows personally. Hebert said he first began creating using steel and copper back when he lived in Kirksville, Mo. For the past dozen years or so, Hebert has continued his blacksmithing hobby from a workshop just a few steps from his New Sharon home.
When asked how he first got into blacksmithing, Hebert pointed to a good friend of his who specializes in knife making.
Although he’d had some experience working in a sheet metal shop making “anything and everything you could imagine,” it took time for Hebert to get better and better at traditional blacksmith work.
“It was a challenge to make whatever someone asked me to make,” said Hebert, noting that the challenging aspects of blacksmithing are what he enjoys about the trade.
Creativity is a must when it comes to blacksmithing, according to Hebert.
“I think most people need to be creative in some way or form,” he said.
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Related Photos
-
Phil Hebert uses a torch to bend this piece of metal in his New Sharon blacksmith shop. Herald photo by Andy Goodell
Share your thoughts!
Planters to help maintain city square flowers
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
-
-
VIDEO: Actor James Gandolfini dies at 51
HBO and his managers say James Gandolfini -- best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the TV series "The Sopranos" -- has died in Italy at age 51.
-
Owning a pit bull in Pa. is doggone expensive
Pit bulls “are considered dangerous animals/dogs and potentially hazardous to the community,” a Bessemer, Pa., ordinance states.
-
VIDEO: Snake learns how to open doors
We've seen cats open doors. We've seen dogs open doors. But have you ever seen a snake open a door? This python can.
-
Men's Wearhouse founder George Zimmer fired
Men's Wearhouse's board fired George Zimmer, the founder and public face of the company, as executive chairman without saying why and delayed its annual shareholder meeting.
-
VIDEO: Obama renews call for nuclear reductions
President Barack Obama is calling for a one-third reduction of the world's nuclear stockpiles. Speaking at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, he says he intends to seek negotiated cuts with Russia to move beyond a Cold War nuclear posture.
-
Transportation group slams Iowa bridges
An advocacy group says Iowa's bridges are, as a group, more likely to be deficient than those found in most states. Transportation for America ranked Iowa third from the bottom nationally.
-
VIDEO: Journalist Michael Hastings killed in Hollywood crash
A man killed in a fiery car crash in Hollywood on Tuesday was award-winning journalist Michael Hastings, his employer said.
-
Are sunscreen chemicals something to worry about?
As the season of bare skin and scorching sun draws near, you — like so many other people — may find yourself scratching your head over sunscreen.
-
Eldest of 19 Duggar kids hired by D.C. lobbying group
After three decades of fighting the culture wars from within the Washington establishment, the conservative Family Research Council decided that it needed a fresh, new face to reach outside and cultivate the grass roots.
-
Indoor R/C raceway features dirt track
If rain washes out the races at the Southern Iowa Speedway, you can still catch some racing action at Kelderman’s Hobby Shack Raceway at the Heartland Center, live or soon, via the Internet.
-
Storefronts to get a big facelift
OTTUMWA -- A fresh set of facades in one city block could build momentum for the revitalization of downtown Ottumwa. The city has received conditional approval for a $500,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority's downtown master facade
-
VIDEO: NSA director says 50 plots foiled
General Keith Alexander says two recently disclosed surveillance programs on international communications are critical in the terrorism fight.
-
Called 'Next Stephen Hawking,' teen is perfect on math exam
There's a wall on the third floor of Lewiston-Porter High School dedicated to celebrating perfect scores on state mathematics exams. A new name joined the growing list Tuesday, which brought a smile to the face of everyone involved.
-
Bakery mix-up goes viral after cat drawn on girl's head
A photo of one graduate's cake has gone viral on Reddit due to a bakery mix-up that left a cat, instead of a cap, drawn on her head.
-
T-15 may close for three months
The construction of the hydroelectric plant near the Red Rock Dam is expected to include road closures, including the possibility of T-15 being closed for 12 weeks.
- More CNHI/Southeast Iowa Headlines
-
