Scott Salzsieder

As art students went, I was slow to get started and sometimes wouldn't complete my projects before the end of the unit. I always attributed it to perfectionism, but those from my class know that wasn't the case. Mr. Hodge (still hard to shake the 'Mr.' habit after learning it almost 60 years ago) was always encouraging me to work faster. The encouragement was consistent and sincere. In the long run, it turns out the creative journey is more important than the product.

(above) File and Firewood, wrought steel and spalted silver maple, 1981

After Campus School, I found that I enjoyed art metals and could spend as much time as I needed on projects by working at home and checking out the metals lab key. It turns out that the creative journey is even better when you end up with a product at the end. I did the projects I've submitted here about 40 years ago while still at UW-O, where I first received the inspirational encouragement from Mr. Hodge more than a decade earlier.

(below left) Pizza Knife, wrought steel, 1981; (below right) Garage Door Springs, Wrought Steel, 1981

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