Founder of Heise Metal Sculpture in 1966, Bill Heise discovered interesting shapes in the rusting hulks of old farm equipment around his home in rural Vermont. This “found metal,” as he called it, became the template for a sculptural style honed after earning a degree in art education at State University of New York at Buffalo. Employing a twist on the concept of “swords into ploughshares,” Bill assembled these various shapes to create unique sculptures with graceful lines and distinct personalities. The ethereal forms of his pieces defied the rugged origins of each component part, resulting in elegant herons, agile horses, whimsical cows.
Intrigued with his uncle’s alchemy while growing up, and now proudly carrying the proverbial “torch” for Heise Metal Sculpture, Chad Heise strictly adheres to the principles and methods taught to him by his uncle. He crafts a diversity of one-of-a-kind wildlife sculptures, using obsolete agricultural, maritime, and industrial components, thus repurposing metal from a bygone era–a plow disc which faithfully turned soil for a century becomes an angelfish, a pitchfork tine the beak of crane bent to sip water.
A blacksmith by trade, Dan Raimond became interested in Bill Heise’s designs, and Bill’s concept of using salvaged metal. Dan has worked with Heise Metal Sculpture since 2007, and by using discarded brass instruments, copper, and auto chrome, he has brought his own unique signature to the work. Quirky elephant ears are cut from drum cymbals, a resolute Don Quixote is constructed with the galvanized blade of an old windmill.