By Marty Baker, Editor

Whether shaping the lives of students in a shop setting or shaping hot iron in a forge, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that an instructor of Neil Mansfield’s quality is turning out students like Cody Taylor (see “Ready to Prove Himself” in this issue). Neil possesses an impressive resume. Over 25 years ago, while serving in the U.S. Navy, Neil attended the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program at Hobart Institute. He served as a Navy Steel Worker Chief of the U.S. Naval Construction Force (Seabee’s) and retired from that position. He has worked as a Structural Iron Worker, Sheet Metal Worker, submarine welder and ship fitter. Neil has constructed titanium racing bicycles and welded racing wheel chairs.

Besides being an experienced Metal Fabrication Teacher at Assabet Valley Vocational High School in Massachusetts, Neil is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector/Educator and a blacksmith, artist, and owner of Flying Sparks Forge, a custom ornamental hand forge iron works.

“My positive learning experience and developed welding skills while attending Hobart Institute has, and continues to help me, teach the next generation of welders and fabricators in the northeast. I am forever grateful to the U.S. Navy for sending me to Hobart’s structural and pipe welding program to prepare me for welding pipelines in the South Pacific.”

Neil says his passion for iron started as a young boy when he would take trips to see what his father did as an occupation. His dad was a structural iron worker who helped shape the New York City skyline with skyscrapers and bridges.

“I still have the same passion for shaping hot iron as I did when I first stepped out with my dad on to a small iron beam as a little boy. As a young teenager in a local vocational high school in New York City, I was introduced to blacksmithing and tool-making as part of my metalworking program,” says Neil.

That passion becomes obvious when you have the opportunity to look at a few of Neil’s masterpieces in art.

“The rhythm of the hammer, the flow of the iron, and the experience of watching the iron grow beneath my hands still takes me on a mythical journey that I never tire of,” says Neil. “The relationship between art and craft enables me to create both traditional and contemporary work while occasionally dipping back in time to the medieval and gothic periods. I like to bring life into my iron work by blending metals such as bronze, copper, and stainless steel. This marriage of metals gives me the opportunity to experiment with color, texture, and shape.”

“I have blended my technical background and design skills to create functional metalwork that is pleasing to the eye and enhances people’s everyday lives, homes, and gardens,” Neil continues.

Neil’s enthusiasm is also reflected in his teaching. “It’s a pleasure to watch my students get excited about creative metalworking projects, just as I did 25 years ago. It’s wonderful to turn iron from raw material to a piece of fine art.”

In addition to fine artwork, Neil custom crafts hand railings and garden gates. View his work at http://www.mansfieldmetalart.com or contact Neil via e-mail at smithynb@comcast.net


Reference: Photography and web site by Neil Mansfield and D.M. Photographics, Marlborough, MA.