(husband + wife)old farm equipment = awesome!
Ben & Kate Gatski are a husband & wife team creating sculptural & functional art from old farm equipment. They work on their farm in Bloomsburg and find inspiration in their rural surroundings.
Their work is whimsical, imaginative, and fun. A piece of Gatski Metal would work in a modern city apartment or a primitive log cabin interior.
From the moment I saw their work, I had to know more!
HiP: I saw that you both have backgrounds in agriculture. What was your inspiration for creating art & jewelry out of agricultural relics?
Ben began welding together farm machinery parts at age 18. We were both heavily influenced by our families; Creativity is in our blood.Ben’s mother was a basket maker and my mother is a full-time weaver of rag rugs (and has been for over 30 years). Creativity is in our blood. We are inspired by our rural, farm setting- it is beautiful and powerful. We are also inspired by our passion for farming and food. We enjoy working to honor agriculture through art.
HiP: Is your work available at any galleries or stores in Pennsylvania? Will you be at any upcoming shows in PA?
Our work is available at:
Home & Planet (Bethlehem, PA) Ideas & Objects (Harrisburg, PA) 717-234-3540 G Squared Gallery (Ligonier, PA) 724-238-8083 Earth & State (Media, PA) 610-566-9270 Red Run (Pocono Pines, PA) 570-643-9075 Artisans Gallery (Lahaska, PA) 215-794-3112 We are currently not doing any retail shows. We do 2 wholesale shows each year- the Buyers Market of American Craft Shows in Philadelphia.
HiP: Tell me about your design process. What inspires a new piece? Do you & your husband work together on the design?
Ben and I do work together on our designs. We’ve used many different approaches. Sometimes he has
an idea in his head, and he goes to the shop and comes back with something awesome. Sometimes, I have an idea and I try to translate it to him (Ben does all the shop work). Sometimes we sketch together. Sometimes we have a part that we think is great and we work together to make it into something interesting. It is a very fluid process.
I’m also pleased to announce that Gatski Metal is now available on Etsy in the form of fabulous earrings! Not only can you outfit yourself in a piece of agricultural history, but 5% of the proceeds from the sale of this new jewelry line will go to support sustainable agriculture.
6 comments
Love the pig! Make sure Alex sees this ….looks like a good fit for HB. Come to think of it Dawn and HodgePodery would love this, too!
Rosie’s Whimsy’s last blog post..HodgePodgery
As usual, Ms Tara, your Mad Tweeting skills brought this to my attention! Love that RoseysWhimsey thought so too! Will be in contact with the Gatskis!
Dawn’s last blog post..Over the Fence
Love the mounted deer head! I’d never have a real one hanging in my home, but would love one like this.
Pamela Kucera’s last blog post..Marin Earrings of Triple Stack Emerald Green Czech Glass on Sterling Silver Chain
Awesome find, Tara! I loved the item you shared on Facebook, and as a Bloomsburg University alum, I’m thrilled to find out here on the blog that they hail from Bloomsburg!
Karen Faulkner’s last blog post..Cloudy with a Chance of Pink Showers
So unique and beautiful – I’ll have to stop in the Artisans Gallery next time I’m in the area!
Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes’s last blog post..Story Behind the Picture: "Little Toes"
i love all of this stuff!
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