Kuriosities

First things first, forgive the cheesy title…I am overexcited.

Sometimes birthday wishes come true with an alarming swiftness. The wish I wished on the stars and the moon on mine was that I remain healthy and strong (so far, so good, knock on wood and all that jazz) but also that I get to do new and exciting things with my work. And that is where I am at right now, looking forward to the arrival of my mail with childlike anticipation. Waiting, waiting, for the cymbal to arrive. Cymbal?? Yes, a cymbal. Let’s go back to the beginning of the story.

I have a client who contacted me to make him a custom pendant, who happens to be a drummer in a band from Chicago. He requested that the pendant be made out of bronze. Easy enough at first glance, I have sheets of bronze ready to work, BUT then he requested a very specific alloy of bronze.  

So the research began, and apparently this alloy cannot be purchased anywhere on the planet but, of course, from Paiste – a leading manufacturer of cymbals. What to do, what to do? So I checked out their website (which is an incredible read to both metalsmiths and musicians alike), and then got up the gumption to send them off an email asking if I might purchase a small piece of sheet or if they might be willing to sell me a damaged cymbal to make into a pendant for a drummer client of mine who had requested that it be made out of their specific alloy. A week went by without an answer, although I did notice that someone from Paiste USA checked out my gallery during that time. Thinking it hopeless,  I started to look into purchasing a cymbal (ouch! those are expensive!), and then looking into where I could get a broken one.

But on Friday, I came home to an email in my in-box from Yamaha Canada! It was from a fellow from their drum marketing department. Apparently they were contacted by Paiste to send me a cymbal to be made into art. To say that I was excited is a vast understatement. (I was fairly buzzing with joy and inspiration, and actually danced all over my living room.) And have spent every moment since dreaming of what I will do with the rest of the cymbal – all the pieces that I will make – and dreaming of a possible series that will all be connected with a common theme. So many ideas.

But I want to see the cymbal first, to hold it in my hands, feel the texture of the metal, see its sheen, be inspired by its shape and sound, by the craftmanship in its creation- all of these things first – before I settle on any idea. The nifty thing also is that Paiste/Yamaha Canada is interested in seeing how this all turns out too – so I will be photographing and documenting the results to send to them.

I will be also be documenting this new project here, so check back often for updates…and if you are a drummer, and would be interested in having a custom piece made in this very nifty and unique project, EMAIL ME! I am eager for this to include many drummers, of different traditions, and varying skill levels, all tied together by this common cymbal (symbol).