I am 70 (2024) and all my life, from a very young age I have been drawn to the arts, no matter what it was, sculptures in all types of materials, paintings, and music. The only thing I could do to my satisfaction was wood carving, cabinetry and furniture making, now metal. This is with the hope of putting the two materials, wood and metal, together into something pleasing to the eye and functional.

My grand father, Lawrence Manade, was a Blacksmith and I hung around his shop from very young age and didn't appreciate it at the time.. Taking up the art of cabinetry and furniture making I didn't take up metal work, but after inheriting his anvil I couldn't help but to keep the heritage going, although a little later in life. I now understand why, when not fishing and hunting this big man loved to work with hot metal. Hopefully my love for wood and now metal will show through.