Daniel Strandow

This project explores the archetype of the metalsmith as a path to constituting the sacred. I
fragment and reforge reclaimed iron and modern steel to achieve a fractal aesthetic, as found
in the branching of trees and in the patterns of the elements. These symbolize the mystery of
iron released from the sky as meteorites, brought to term in the ground as iron ore, until being
finally delivered through the forge.
From the traditional view of art, I am inspired by the idea that the sacredness of an object is
inseparable from its aesthetic and its utility. And as a contemporary material-based artist I
highlight how the power, rhythm, and material connection of forging can inform the aesthetic,
as well as the objects’ function and sense of the sacred. The results are masks and vessels
made from both pattern welded and homogenous steels inspired by Sky, Earth, and
Underworld.