From Fine Homebuilding, November 2002
"You need a carpenter
to know which way the wind blows?"
Back Cover
Builder Dennis Laferriere of West Danville, Vermont didn’t know what to expect when the flatbed truck pulled up to the house, loaded with his Christmas present from his wife, Pam. She thought a hammer would be a better weather vane for their barn/office than the more common rooster or three-masted schooner.
Joe Hallowell of Art Metal in North Danville, Vermont, helped her out. He started with a 4-ft. model but realized that the hammer vane would be dwarfed by the 100-ft. length of the barn, so he increased the size. At 13 ft. in length, the hammer weighs only about 150 lb. Hallowell used 20-ga. sheet steel throughout, finishing it with multiple coats of rust-preventive paint. Pam Laferriere says that the vane has weathered some gale-force winds without complaint and continues to stop traffic in front of the barn.
From Caledonian-Record, June 27, 2000
Fun, Food & Fashion Section
Imagination Plus Metal Equals Equals
Fantastic Garden Wall Art
By Karen M. Joyce
Staff Writer
North Danville artist Joe Hallowell leans against a vulture standing
watch over his nameplate at his home. With a patina of rust, the
vulture is an integral part of the landscape.
What do spiders, vultures, dragon flies, llama, and skeletons have in common?
Enter the world of Joe Hallowell, owner of Imaginations in Metal, a resident of North Danville. Walk through a garden gate decorated with a spider web, or a sun and stars. You are now inhabited by Oz-like fantastical creatures.
Hallowell creates all sorts of bugs, small ladybugs, spiders and dragonflies to stand on a garden wall or hearth. A colorful llama family, morn, dad and baby brightly colored or a fantasy bird, wings outstretched, to watch over a field. He makes dragon fly tables and lily and cattail lamps to transform a corner of a room. This is what he does make among many other things, but he make much more, in fact pretty much anything you can imagine. Hallowell’s metal sculptures have the quality of creatures you might expect to meet walking down the Yellow Brick Road, but they are as close as North Danville.
A vulture fabricated from junk metal perches over Hallowell’s nameplate with a sense of mythical realism such that it seems he just might stretch out his head and ask would-be entrants for a secret password.
In the bottom of a field a large bird stands with wings outstretched and head high, a benevolent guardian. The bird, also made of junk metal was one of Hallowell’s c first artistic creations. He explained that he and a former partner gathered junk and put the bird together. It stands in the field coated with a soft patina of rust.
The metal creatures can be used indoors or out. The can be given a clear coat, but the rust itself creates a protective coating. Usually when we up here in the land of long and snowy winters think of rust we think of the disintegration of our cars. This is because Hallowell explains, car metal is thin. His sculptures rust if placed outside, but he says they are too heavy to disintegrate in our lifetime.
The rust changes the metal creatures from shins new things to soft, timeless beings that belong wherever they are placed. A spider standing on a stone wall at Hallowell’s looks as if it has been there forever. The rust also seems to take the creatures and give them a certain life and warmth.
Shiny unrusted beings fit in with any decor, from country to contemporary whatever our style they will find a perfect place. Rusted or unrusted the creatures are beautiful.
In addition to the garden fixtures and decorations Hallowell makes lamps and furniture. Lamp bases are composed of lilies and cattails. Light from above reflects onto planes of the leaves and flowers creating changeable highlights.
While much delicate metal work is flimsy, Hallowell’s is all but. They hold their form with weight and would provide a wetland or garden feel to a living room corner or desk top of any Northeast Kingdom living room or office, even in the dead of winter.
That's the fantasy quality these creations have: they allow a glimpse into another world, a parallel universe of sorts.
How about some garden furniture or a pair of chairs for the front porch?
Meet Mr. and Mrs. Bones, These wonderful skeleton chairs sit side by side, the arms, the legs and the laps are for sitting in. Mr. sports a derby, Mrs. wears a garland of flowers around her head. A friendly pair that one is riot surprised to meet at Hallowell’s, but I could see them on my porch too cheerfully greeting visitors.
His is a fantastic world, one that most people would want a part of, inhabited by benevolent creatures, however strange.
A memorial tree, fashioned from pieces of
pipe welded together and adorned with leaves
and apples stands in a North Danville orchard.
The tree was sculpted by artist Joe Hallowell,
who sells both premade and custom metal art.
One of Hallowell’s most ambitious creations is an apple tree. It stands in memory of Curtis Vance, a Danville resident who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, in a newly created orchard in North Danville. The trunk and branches are made of pipe cut and pieced, embellished with delicate apples and leaves. It was installed recently, so it hasn’t rusted yet, but it seems such a part of that quiet orchard, touched with breezes and gentle sunlight that one can almost feel the presence of the people for whom the tree was created, and those for whom the other, fruit-bearing apple trees ere planted.
The memorial tree was commissioned. Four apples hang from the branches and two, one full-grown and one tiny sit against the trunk. In the Vance family there were six sons, one died at birth and Curtis Vance as an adult. The four hanging apples represent the four brothers still living, the two by the trunk those who have gone.
Commissioned work is Hallowell’s true love. He has created large sculptures, one a detailed eagle with out stretched wings and claws holding a fish. It will be attached to a stand which on a wing, giving it the appearance of an eagle in flight.
The eagle as over 4 feet from wing tip to wing tip, but weighs only about 100 pounds. It is hollow and was made first as a skin to which drips and swirls were applied, Hallowell explained to make feathers and scales.
“The sky’s the limit.” said Hallowell, talking about the kinds of things he can make. Standing next to the wall spider, countless ideas come to mind.
Hallowell began his career as a welder. He moved to the Northeast Kingdom from southern New Hampshire about 10 years ago and began to devote his time to art metal about three years ago.
Hallowell sells his pre-made sculptures at the Danville Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays through Hill Street Unlimited, where they say, “We just can’t keep it in stock.” and at craft shows. Hallowell will he at the Burklyn Summer Craft Fair in Lyndonville the weekend of July 1.
Hallowell stresses that he has something for everyone, both in terms of size, design and price. Remember, if you don’t see exactly what you want. Hallowell will make it.
A large bird stands watch in a field at artist Joe Hallowell’s house.
Hallowell created the bird from funk yard metal.
From Vermont Standard, January 13, 2005
Entertainment Section
Sculptor Offers Glimpse Into The Abstract
By Richard A. Radford
Feature Correspondent
Abstract art can be an intimidating subject. Although the viewers of a piece may nod their heads appreciably, or talk about form and color, there is sometimes a nagging voice from the depths of ones mind: “What were they thinking? What does it all mean?
Fans of North Danville sculptor Joe Hallowell were offered a peek into the methodology and thoughts of the artist’s work when he gave a slideshow lecture at the Norman Williams Public Library last Sunday.
Joe Hallowell's "Collaboration,"
currently on display in Woodstock.
Hallowell made it very easy for anyone to understand his passion of his medium, the steel as being almost an organic thing in and of itself. "It’s really exciting.” he says, while explaining the creation of one of his pieces, “the noises coming out of the steel, creaking, groaning. It’s not often attributed with it, but the steel has warmth to it right here.”
For Hallowell the entire process of a piece is the most important thing. “It’s interesting to see in my mind, try and envision the finished product,” he explains. “Even loading it on the back of the truck with a flatbed, it’s all part of the creative process.”
His most imposing piece was undoubtedly “The Individual,” nine sculpted steel poles standing at 19 feet tall. Also shown was the Blue Heron from last year’s Sculpturefest. ‘Collaboration One,” a 2,000-pound piece, started off as a paper model designed by Joan Sanchez. At first, Hallowell said he had trouble dealing with somebody else’s design, working within parameters set by another’s artistic eye. By his and everyone else’s reaction to the piece, however, the final result was quite effective.
Several of the pieces were not only for display, serving a functional purpose. A set of wine room doors are shown, decorated with grapes carved out of steel. A weathervane had been created on commission, the client wanting an abstract impression of a skier in motion. A day lily mailbox and a Lamp with steel cattails growing out of it created an image of nature mixed with Hallowell’s industrial style.
One of the most unique pieces melding form and function was an “intimidation chair” requested by one of Hallowell’s clients for his poker games. “He said anything with a spider web theme:’ says Hallowell. “It’s fun when someone just gives you two or three ideas or a theme that they want, and to call them when it’s done.” The resulting piece was indeed intimidating, a large steel chair with a spider web backing, and eight sinewy legs holding it up. “How’s his game luck been since he got that?” one of the audience members joked.
Hallowell’s work can be seen in different locations around the state. He has been involved with Charlotte Davenport’s yearly celebration “Sculpturefest” as well. Two of his pieces are currently on display at the library: a half-scale version of “The Individual” and “Collaboration One.” for any who are curious as well to take a look into the mind of the artist.
From Caledonian-Record, May 26, 2003
News From The Region Section
Open Artisan Studios Draw
Rainy-weekend Crowds
By Chris Dodge
News Correspondent
Danville artist Joe Hallowell created this 11-foot tall
giraffe from metal. He showed off his work to visitors
of his studio during the past two days as part of the
Vermont Crafts Council's Open Studio Weekend.
Hardwick’s fireworks may have been postponed Saturday evening as rain pelted down and cloud-laden skies promised no relief.
But not all colorful explosions were doomed.
In fact, for the nearly 230 artisans and crafters state-wide availing their studios and galleries to visitors over the weekend, the viewing of vibrant hues worthy of jaw dropping gasps had only just begun and would not be hampered by the less-than- desirable weather.
The Vermont Crafts Councils 11th annual Open Studio Weekend may have found a good thing in the past 48 hours of cloud cover and cooler temperatures.
Crafters like Jeanne Gallerani, a Danville-based creator of felt wearables, toys and furnishings, discussed their crafts to crowd after crowd who had little interest in exposing themselves to the outside misery.
“This allows us to tell people what we do.” Gallerani said Sunday stopping only briefly to offer guests refreshments and catch her breath.
Having just sold her 60 sheep, Gallerani is preparing to bring in a new younger herd which will produce the roughly 200 pounds of wool she uses annually to make pillows, blankets, hats, purses, shawls, juggling balls and other cuddly items.
Her wares are not limited to wool, however. A felter Gallerani uses hair from llamas, Angora rabbits, Newfoundland dogs, yaks and cashmere to create her products of all shapes, sizes and colors
In her guest-packed studio, Gallerani showing off her art education background demonstrated the process used to make felt from wool by pouring soaps water over the shearings and kneading the soggy pile inside a rolled-up mat. Her guests rarely turned their heads And when the pried themselves away, another group walked through the door.
The weekend’s mediums were not all soft and cuddly however.
Not far down the road. Joe Hallowell used a slightly larger gallery space. His 5 acre backyard is home to nearly 20 metal sculptures including an 11-foot-tall red giraffe nibbling fresh spring leases from a live maple sapling, a rooster of nearly the same stature, gigantic tooth and hair brushes, and abstract work laced with drizzles of paint that would make Jackson Pollock proud.
Hallowell, a welder by trade said fixing broken machinery did not take into account his creative side, so six sears ago he abandoned his own business to become a sculptor of metal full time. He is responsible for a number of eye-catching works including a 14-foot metal hammer-shaped weathervane he created for a local construction company. He also makes metal gates, lamps, coat racks, and bed headboards.
While all of the weekend’s artists shared a common creativity, the materials they used was as varied as the style in which they use it.
In a monstrous red barn just outside Greensboro village, Jennifer Ranz greeted visitors with and warm smile and an assortment of work certain to convince the most harsh critic of her versatility and talent. Rows of watercolor paintings and reproductions, greeting cards, porcelain earrings and pottery of many shades, shapes and sizes pleased guests.
Colonial-inspired furnishings and decoupaged boxes were the name of the game for the husband-and-wife duo of Paul and Jean Evans.
From corner cupboards to chests of vintage greens and blues. Paul Evans’ woodworking style reflects an era unique among the weekend’s showcases. A series of cream-, black-, and blue-painted boxes, decorated with maple leaves and pressed flowers. The work of Jean Evans, adorned much of the furniture. Her pressed flowers and sentiments were framed along the walls of the team’s newly remodeled Danville gallery while the scent of handmade potpourri lightly wafted about the room.
While the couple said the weather decreased the number of visitors they had this year, potential customers from New Jersey and Virginia toured the Evans’ shop and gallery on Saturday.
“This is kind of like farming. Harley Strader said of being a ceramic artist. “It’s full time and then some.”
The Cabot-based artist creates stoneware and pottery often from clay and sediment he collects from local sites and confesses to “sleeping with the kiln” during many late night firings. A virtual kitchen for clay, the walls in Strader’s workspace are lined with mysterious jars and bottles labeled in potter lingo and resemble shelves in a wizard’s magical room. An array of electric milkshake mixers, spatulas and other appliances are fastened to the walls, out of sight from the modest gallery that showcases a wide range of mugs, plates and decorative items.
“I am having a good time experimenting and exploring.” Hardwick artist Marie LaPre Grabon said Sunday.
LaPre Grabon’s polymer clay figures which she calls “fetish dolls for the 21st Century.” cover an entire wall in her studio-gallery. Sunday it was difficult to squeeze through the crowd to catch a glimpse of the whimsical people. From a juggler to a bride, the characters box-like torsos open to reveal other clay objects and themes.
“What an amazing and wonderful weekend.” California resident Melissa Rent said maintaining a steady pace and focused eye on wool blankets in Gallerani’s studio. “There sure isn’t anything like this in California. Where else, other than Vermont can you take a leisurely Sunday drive and make so many wonderful and scenic stops? I’m learning so much.”
From PANACHE Magazine, Sept/Oct 2004
The Good Life “Choice Outings”
Bruce Museum Outdoor Arts Festival
Joe Hallowell's sculptures at Outdoor Arts Festival
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