News and Press
1974-2OO9
Tragically, we lost our dear friend and collaborator, Van Kellems, to an unfortunate motorcycle accident this Summer.
Van was a rare artisan not only in his choice of a career as a blacksmith, but in terms of integrity. He was born with the Arts & Crafts credo imbedded in his soul. He always favored true craftsmanship and artistry over fakey surface treatments designed to make things look “Arts & Crafts”. In other words, if there is a tool mark on his iron, it is there because it was required to create the item he was making. Van was open to exploring any idea and applying his trade to projects difficult to achieve in iron, projects usually relegated to softer metals like copper and brass.
As a collaborator, Van was always willing to accommodate our passion for utilizing iron in unusual ways, and as a means of achieving joinery honestly.
Van was an important collaborator in our business, and his work is featured in our room set, Falling Leaves. He forged all of the iron fittings, joinery, and hardware for the room. If you’ve seen Falling Leaves in person, then you know his exquisite work. We had many new projects in the works, now never to be completed. Our clients who have Van’s work in their homes treasure it even more. We honor Van’s work which we display at all of our exhibitions, and cherish the memories of our times together.