A Footscray blacksmith is forging his way on to the world metal-art stage.
Estebaan Dante, otherwise known as Steve Phillips, has been invited to join some of the world’s leading artist blacksmiths in a prestigious exhibition in Belgium next month.
The exhibition, titled Transitions, will be part of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of World War I.
Phillips said he first felt the blacksmithing bite when he studied the art during a midlife sabbatical about eight years ago.
“I took a year of artist blacksmithing and that lit my fire,” he said.
“Over the last few years I have run a couple of festivals at Waterside Metal Arts Studio and have had Belgian blacksmiths come out to Footscray. They advised me about this exhibition, so I decided to put forward an application.”
The selection panel was impressed by his exhibition proposal and so he was invited to submit a piece for the exhibition in Ypres, organised by the British Artist Blacksmith Association.
Phillips’ contribution, titled facets of reflection, consists of a bouquet of forged crystalline-like forms emerging from a ruptured, pewter-filled artillery shell.
Phillips said the work reflected the devastation wrought by war and also the forces of creation and renewal that emerged after war.
“I took a year of artist blacksmithing and that lit my fire,” he said.
“The idea came together with my wife – to have something beautiful come out of something ugly and deadly.
“She’s Belgian and her grandfather was affected by mustard gas in World War I. This was a mustard gas shell.”
Phillips said having his work chosen for the exhibition reflected the high level of metal art being undertaken in Melbourne’s west.
“We’re engaged in something unique here and it’s drawing the eye of the metal art world our way.”
Phillips, who works full time as an environmental scientist, says metal work is the “weekend passion” of his alter ego Estebaan.
He runs regular courses at the Waterside Metal Art Studios on Maribyrnong Street with local blacksmith Jack Wylestone.
Details: watersidemetalart.org
