Dallas Morning News

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Local Talent

Wrought with possibilities

by Rita Cook (social contributor)

Polish-American metal artist and designer Izabela Wojcik, 31, says she finds inspiration for her work just about anywhere. Really, the possibilities are endless, and my ideas come from maybe seeing a fixture to sometimes even noticing a funny clasp on a shoe," she says.

Wojcik works for Potter Art Metal Studios in Dallas, designing custom pieces such as chandeliers, gazebos and even staircases, and doing everything except twisting the metal.

"I don't specifically do the metal work, because I would break my arms doing what the guys do here," she says.

She has cultivated her knowledge of metals, taking into consideration not only the beauty of a piece, but also its functionality. When designing a piece in metal, you have to know how the metal will work together and to what extent they can be manipulated," she says.

She starts with paper and pencil and sometimes uses a computer. After her design is completed, company meal artisans forge the pieces.

The Potter studios did the metalwork on many historic homes in the Lakewood neighborhood, as well as light fixtures at Fair Park and White Rock Lake, among other Dallas landmarks. Wojcik, who received a liberal arts degree in 2001, has been with the company since 2005.

She says clients seem to be asking for interior railings, doors, chandeliers and exterior lanterns, usually in wrought iron. She says that's the strongest metal, and also a good choice for cost-conscious homeowners. She says this season's colors are either chocolate rust or natural wrought-iron look.

The most unusual item she's designed since working at Potter would be the Art Nouveau fireplace mantel for developer Trammell Crow.

"Between that first drawing and when the piece was actually completed about six months later, lots of changes were made," she says. The finished piece - 600 pounds of hand-wrought and polished iron - "looked like a piece of museum-quality art for sure."

Pieces for her work range from $800 for a candle wall sconce to $3,750 for a lantern to $18,000 for a bronze table.

She's currently working on a pine-tree interior railing to be made from wrought iron.

"The client for this particular piece is surrounded by pine trees and wanted to bring the outside into their home. The pinecones, needles and tree-branch textures are amazingly realistic; we even made little baby pinecones among the needles," she says.

Wojcik also continues her personal artistic pursuits, creating bronze sculptures, oil and acrylic paintings, pencil drawings and glass art.

"Unless I'm specifically commissioned for a project, I really never have any idea where a piece will take me," she says. "It is not until after the artwork is completed and I have had time to take it in that I can let the feelings come to me and realize what has been put on canvas or molded in clay.

Izabela Wojcik's work is available through Potter Art Metal Studios, 4827 Memphis St., Dallas; 214-821-1419. See samples of her work at www.potterartmetal.com or www.belaart.com

Rita Cook is an Arlington-based freelance writer

Dallas Business Journal - August 6-12, 2010

IDEAS IN ACTION

Iron Man

POTTER ART META STUDIO FORGES WORKS OF FUNCTIONAL ART WHILE GROWING A 90-YEAR-OLD FAMILY BUSINESS LEGACY
BY CHRIS CYREK | STAFF WRITER

Showers of sparks, the clank of hammer against anvil, the whir of a high-speed circular saw. These are some of the sights and sounds in Richard Potter’s Potter Art Metal Studio, a 90-year-old family enterprise. The high-end metal shop, started by Potter’s grandfather Henry in 1920, has developed a reputation for quality and artistry.

Evidence for this can be found on the bustling work floor: soaring stair railings that appear to be entwined by flaring pine cones, driveway gates that close to form the branches of an oak tree, a chandelier that looks as if it was spirited away from a hobbit’s hole.

“The quality and detail that I put into a thing,” says owner Richard Potter, a fourth-generation metalworker, “is, I think, fairly reflected in the price.”
The focus on high-end work has allowed the shop to grow despite prevailing economic pressures. “Plus, people are coming directly to the manufacturer, so they’re not dealing with a retail store markup.” Potter sells directly from the shop to customers nationwide.

The Metalwork – a typical fan/chandelier installation can run up to $10,000 – has helped Potter Metal withstand the recession.  Lean times were met with shared sacrifices as costs were cut.
A rebuilt website, new advertising initiatives and positive press concerning recent high-profile projects – such as an 11-foot tall chandelier built for the council chambers in University Park and a strikingly original fireplace built for longtime friend Trammell Crow – also are helping the studio get Potter’s name out.  “More and more contacts are from out of town and out of state,” Potter says.
Potter grew up in the shop, once located on Knox-Henderson at Central Expressway.

“When I was a kid, we didn’t have computers, barely any TV.  The fun thing for me was coming down here and spending time in the back, watching the guys making different things,” he says.

Potter took over the shop in the 1970s, continuing a business his father, grandfather and great-grandfather worked in.  Three years ago, Potter moved the shop to a larger location off of Interstate 35.
The addition of creative director Izabela Wojcik in 2005 shaped a new direction for the studio, although Potter points out that many of their techniques his crew uses would be recognizable to his grandfather.

Founder Henry Potter began the business after meeting a salesman for Sanger-Harris (now Foley’s), who ordered 100 light fixtures after seeing Potter building lights for his house.  The business quickly grew, and some of the original work done by Henry Potter can still be found around Dallas, such as lighting fixtures that dot Fair Park.

World War II brought a new focus for the business, which shifted production to building aircraft parts.  The company’s payroll swelled to hundreds of employees, and the good times continued into the post-war boom, as the Potter studios left its mark on large churches, country clubs and homes throughout the ‘50s.
The family legacy continues today, says Richard Potter.  His three children – triplets – spend their summers in the shop, learning the family craft.  It’s a point of pride for Potter.

“I’m not here (working) as a hobby,” he says.  “I’m putting out the best product, made in the most efficient way.”

Customers at Potter Metal tend to come back, time and time again.  “We get clients that are around for years,” says Wojcik.

“They definitely do stand out,” says Kathy Hatcher, an interior designer wo has worked closely with Potter for a number of years.  “Their metalwork is unsurpassed.”  Hatcher praises the metal studio’s versatility and ability to work in styles and materilals as varied as art deco, Spanish and alabaster.

“Every last bit of what they do is hand-forged, and it’s made to last for centuries, and for generations,” she says.

Potter is proud of his shop’s legacy and of its ability to custom-build products to specification.

“The only thing that I won’t do is drop my quality,” Potter says.  “I’ve had some places that I as doing fixtures for, and they asked if we could do some cheaper pieces.  I said no.  Look, I am constantly on top of my guys to build things the best way possible.  The last thing I’m going to tell them to do is to go do the opposite.”

ccyrek@bizjournals.com | 214-706-7113

METAL MAVENS

Artisan-made metalwork is an integral element of many homes in the Southwest.  Dallas-based Potter Art Metal Studios can meet most requests, as it works with everything from iron, brass and copper to bronze, aluminum and pewter.  Designer Izabela Wojcik says she can build almost anything from metal, including gazebos, lanterns, fencing, stair rails, sconces, chandeliers and tables.

Potter Art, which specializes in light fixtures, created this Gothic-style exterior ceiling fan and chandelier in solid brass and copper to serve as a dramatic focal point for a gazebo.  The company relocated to a larger showroom at 4827 Memphis St. earlier this spring.  To learn more about what it has to offer, stop by the studio, go online to http://www.potterartmetal.com, or call (214) 821-1419. Phoenix Home & Garden, May 2007 issue. 

The two door hardware pieces directly to the right of the Dallas Modern Luxury Magazine cover were sculpted by me.  One is a bronze door back plate , with a herd of elephants sculpted on it; the head of the elephant on in front of the line is comes out and his trunk turns into the door lever.  The piece next to that is a door pull, which looks like a Griffin.

I sculpted, cast and finished these angel wing sconces for a local designer... I also did the mirror.  I sculpted the bronze back-splash; it's of a Poseidon type face.  Now this is the interesting part... the water flows out on his tongue.  There are Venetian type dolphins on each side of his face, which turn for hot and cold water control.

How about a tour of Potter Art Metal Studios? There, I not only get to design all sorts of wonderful ornamental metalwork and lighting, but also have a say in how it's made.  Richard Potter, the owner of the company is a really cool guy who, and like me, likes to get into the "interesting" type of metalwork and design... we just love, love, love it when we get such projects; it's simply a wonderful experience.  All the ironwork is hand forged by a group of talented guys who know what they're doing and are  not afraid of red hot metal.  The wild Art Nouveau fireplace mantle the guys were starting on when this video was being made is actually one I designed for Trammell Crow; it was such an awesome piece; words can't describe it and pictures don't do it justice.