Worcester, Massachusetts, was once a mighty, industrial city. That was where I grew  up. That was where I acquired a lifelong fascination with tools and fabrication. I attended the Massachusetts College of Art from 1968 to 1971. Afterwards, I worked as a logger and then as a Teamster car hauler. During that time I explored various art forms and discovered my passion for designing and executing works in metal.

 

Jim DiSilvestro
Jim DiSilvestro working on Mary's Machine in his workshop

In 2006 I made the commitment to pursue this work full time and launched DiSilvestro Steel Works with a display garden for the 2007 New England Spring Flower Show. The garden featured two double gates, two single gates and six sections of fencing, set in granite, all with different motifs. Beginning with the elements of that garden, I designed and fabricated a long series of gates, trellises, railings and benches using a variety of common industrial steel products, striving to produce original work that was functional as well as visually appealing. 

Most of the work was essentially two dimensional drawing with steel. The flat surface of bent and manipulated flat stock produced some depth and interesting lines but I wanted more three dimensional shapes. At the same time, I began to draw the work in full size on floor of my shop which increased my ability to refine and simplify the designs. I also began to use heavier gauge steel tubing, pipe and flat stock than I had previously and than is typically used in commercial gates and railings.

Chalk drawing on the workshop floor of a design for a metal Gate.

Most of my imagery was floral, and I began to make large hammered sheet metal pieces to create work that was much more sculptural, solid and three dimensional. I next built an English wheel and began to experiment with more involved and larger compositions using a combination of hammer and English wheel work.

As my larger work evolved, so did my respect and fascination with old tools and machinery and the people who made and used them. I was and remain drawn to the idea of refurbishing found tools and machine parts, particularly of cast iron, and restoring them back to, or near to, functioning condition. As I combine both the restored and fabricated elements, new and unexpected forms emerge.

Automotive clutch disc enhanced with red paint, copper buds and central steel rose.
Automotive clutch disc enhanced with red paint, copper buds and central steel rose.
Automotive clutch disc enhanced with red paint, copper buds and central steel rose.

My work continues to evolve. The work creates new and interesting questions to answer, more problems to solve, and reveals wonderful surprises…

My work continues to evolve. The work creates new and interesting questions to answer, more problems to solve, and reveals wonderful surprises…