Business Spotlight: Hammersmith Metal Works

by Laura Scott

SBJ Contributing Writer

sbj@sbj.net

For the last 14 years, John Merrell has quietly created unique sculptures and art from his upstairs workshop in a brick building near Springfield's downtown. Merrell's operation is low-key: he has no sign out front and his phone number isn't listed in the yellow pages, but word of his work is getting around.

"John is part of an underground community of talented artists in Springfield," said Andrea Deckard, an interior designer and owner of A. Deckard Interiors. Deckard regularly commissions work from Merrell.

"He's good people and relatively unknown there are different types of artists here that do great work and are not marketing themselves, just going quietly about their work, just as John does," Deckard said. "He's very laid back and unassuming to work with, and that's a refreshing change. In my industry, a lot of artists push their work on you."

John Merrell works with steel and copper, and some brass.

"I mostly do commissioned work, mostly commercial and high-end residential," said Merrell. "I find out what someone desires and give them what they want. They come in with their own ideas. I'm not the best at designing for people or guessing what they want, but I usually sketch out something for them to see and approve of, and it gives me something to work from."

Merrell learned to weld with his father when he was very young. "My father had a small shop in Nevada," he said. "We were in the country, so we did agricultural and manufacturing-type welding. The smartest thing I ever did was to work with him."

Merrell later attended art courses at Southwest Missouri State University. In 1981, he began working for Classic Decorations and started Hammersmith Metal Works in 1988. "I rented this building from Classic Decorations and started collecting tools," he said.

An artist with the Blacksmith Association of North America, Merrell designs intricate items, including unique tables, lanterns, stair railings and distinctive pieces that can be seen on Commercial Street and at Jordan Valley Park Expo Center.

He designed and made a relief sculpture for the wall of the Expo Center in April 2003 that is 6 feet, 6 inches high and 5 feet, 6 inches wide.

The work was commissioned by the city of Springfield with Deckard's recommendation.

"I knew John and knew he did this kind of work and he does such a nice job," said Deckard. "His talent and creativity is a well-kept secret, and that's unfortunate, because he does such great work."

Deckard also had Merrell create a custom fireplace screen for John Q. Hammons Hotels' Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln, Neb., and now has him designing a custom stair railing and fireplace surround in Joplin. Deckard enjoys working with Merrell and co-creating the sketches from her and her clients' concepts and ideas.

Some of his work is co-created with Jack Lassiter, a woodworker who works from the same building on Main, just south of Chestnut Expressway. They are currently working on staircases for a Joplin residence. "Most of my jobs aren't this large," Merrell said. "I'm getting more large jobs than ever now. Last year and this year have been the best years I've had."

His greatest competition comes from businesses such as Lighthouse Gallery and Heintz Lighting. "It's tough to compete with them. My custom work will cost more than what you pay at those businesses, and I don't advertise either. My son called me a guerrilla businessman," he said.

"With the increased work load, my pace has had to pick up. I work solo. I don't have employees because I'd rather not have them and have to then lay them off when work slows down."

Merrell would not talk about specific prices for his work.

"The price range differs because of the complexity of some of the designs. It's not inexpensive and sometimes people don't understand that. Still, I see things that are imported from Mexico and China and people will pay similar to what they pay for my work. Often I have people bring in Mexican imports and I have to re-weld for them."

Currently, Merrell is designing art to go into Jordan Valley Park and works on his own creative projects, like the 15 foot-totem pole he's designing using iron and metal.