By Kristen D - North Island MidWeek
Published: January 03, 2011 1:00 PM
Dramatic designs in metal is the specialty of Sandra and
Walter Moses
Sandra and Walter Moses were becoming bored with
retirement – so they decided to put their skills to good use and start their
own metal work business.
After relocating to Vancouver Island seven years ago, the
couple decided to use Walter’s 34 years of experience working in steel
fabricating shops on the Lower Mainland and Sandra’s artsy flare to open their
own metal art shop.
“When we moved to the Island we took a year off, played
golf, goofed around to see what retirement is like but then we decided we
needed to do something so we opened Ablaze MetalArt & Design,” said Walter.
Now in its fifth year of operation, the little company
has come a long way.
The Moses were recently notified that Ablaze MetalArt
& Design is a finalist for the Business Examiners’ Vancouver Island
Business Excellence Awards.
Walter says he and Sandra will both be in attendance when
the winner is announced Jan. 27 in Nanaimo.
But it has taken a while to get the business to where it
is today.
Originally, the company ran out of a small shop in
Courtenay where the Moses’
lived at the time. Now, after recently moving to Campbell
River, Ablaze MetalArt & Design is located in the Moses’ home at 177
Crawford Road in its own studio with a gallery for people to come and view
their creations.
Walter says there are more than 350 pieces currently
available and Sandra has another 200 pieces she has designed on her computer,
just waiting for Walter to take a look at and transform into physical art work.
The Moses can create almost anything out of stainless
steel, aluminum, copper or brass. Wall hangings featuring wildlife, nature
scenes and native art, are just a few of the things that can be found lying
around the Moses’ studio. The couple also create two and three-dimensional free
standing art and signage for homes and businesses as well as free standing
silhouettes which can be used as security insets for windows and doors.
Walter says the company’s slogan is “If you can dream it
we will make it”
and he and Sandra will create artwork by request.
Walter says the most unique thing ever requested by a
customer was for a pharmacist in Winnipeg. A nature scene of a dock on the
water with trees in the background and lilies in the foreground was turned into
a three-dimensional picture brought to life which stood five feet tall and
measured three feet wide. The Moses’ work is known world-wide thanks to their
website, www.ablazemetalart.com and the couple ship artwork to countries such as
England, Japan, Sweden, Scotland, France and South Africa. Walter says
ironically the pair makes more sales internationally than they do locally and
credits the Internet for their international success.
Locally, work is sold by request, out of their studio or
at small galleries and shops on the Island such as Impressions in Campbell
River and South Hollow in Courtenay.
A special thanks to Kristen at North Island MidWeek for
this story.
Sandra & Walter Moses
Ablaze Metal Art & Design
www.ablazemetalart.com
778-420-3333
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