ELLE Design Studio: Magma Metalworks

MAGMA METALWORKS
ERICA MOODY, FOUNDER

Magma Metalworks is a small custom metal fabrication studio located in Beverly, MA. Erica Moody, founder of Magma, had worked as a professional metal fabricator since 1994. Prior to this interest, Erica was pursuing photography and film at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She moved to Boston in 1992, fell in love with the historic architecture, and met a lot of local craftsman. This inspired her transition into the world of metal fabrication...

From her custom railings, to her own lighting designs, Erica's work is beautifully detailed and precise. She was able to take some time to answer a few questions I had for her, which elaborate on her photography background, inspirations, and approach to metal fabrication... ENJOY!

~ How does your background in photography influence your metal work?
I think in two ways - one of the great interests in photography was learning the mechanics of the old cameras and print enlargers - I would use old medium format cameras (and no digital photography when I studied). I've always loved the hands-on work and learning how to manipulate the mechanisms and play with what you can get from them. Also, the practice of looking and seeing that comes with practicing photography trained for appreciating detail - whether in texture or how light plays on shapes.

~ How has Magma Metalworks changed since you founded the company back in 2001?
I think the main change is in size of the business. I learned the trade by apprenticing and working in other shops for 7-8 years before starting the business. When I started Magma I worked by myself and shared space with another fabricator. I quickly became overwhelmed with the amount of work it takes to run a business and do the fabrication. The business has continually grown, and now I have two employees in a nice 3000 sf studio of our own. The type of work is mainly the same - custom projects - but we definitely have a much bigger presence in the area from word of mouth.

So the business has been on a continuous path of growth, but the goal has always been the same - to try and run it in a way that I can work normal hours and make a living and the work being a service for custom metal fabrication needs of the highest quality. Only recently have wanted to modify this a bit, and develop more in-house projects - projects that I design and fabricate without a client in mind. I think this would help fulfill the personal creative urge I have, as well as showcasing a type and level of metal fabrication that isn't seen much. I think there is so much more possibility for the craft, but potential clients don't see it out in public enough to want it. The metals, finishes, and the way they can be shaped, welded, and connected. I'm fascinated with lighting. So I'm currently working on a small line of custom lights.

~ What do you find to be most challenging & rewarding about your profession?
The most challenging is getting the money in. I don't really see myself as an artist, but a craftsman that is obsessed with a well made piece - and unfortunately this obsession requires me to spend a lot of time on a project to make it right - both in look and function. This makes for expensive work and these days most people don't appreciate the time involved on a well made piece. I often put in more time than I budgeted for in order to make sure the piece is up to our standards. Custom work is tricky to budget correctly since each project has a whole new set of challenges that are not the same as the last - unexpected things pop up. And there are so many metalworkers out there that want to make a quick buck and do shoddy work, and the price comparison to the client is so vast. Fortunately though this often helps me in the long run, since after a client goes for the cheaper work, they are often disappointed, and then they better understand the value of our costs.

The most rewarding is seeing how far I've come in a profession that I stumbled into accidently and the pride in the work I do. Running the business and taking on difficult custom jobs can be so stressful, but with the real challenges comes great sense of achievement. Every time you enter a difficult part of the job it's like jumping off a cliff but you learn to have faith that you can pull through and succeed. And every time you find you do make it through, and the reward of getting to the other side is so great.

~ I LOVE the swing sconce! What is your favorite piece you've designed?
I'm glad you like this one - it is one of my favorite's as well - need better pictures of it! I like the handrail that is like a ribbon as well.

~ What is the largest scale project you've ever worked on?
In quantity, it probably is custom office furniture for Zip car. They have had us do 60 + pieces of office furniture for them in a small amount of time. But as for size and weight, it would probably be either the Veterans Memorial at Northeastern, or a custom stainless stair and balcony rail for a guesthouse on Martha's Vineyard. The stair stringers were cut out of 1" solid stainless (still trying to get finished pictures of this one).

~ What current projects are keeping you busy?
Our main project in the shop is various pieces for a facade for a great restaurant in Cambridge, Ma called Rendezvous. We already made large brass planters for them, and now we are making exterior light sconces and a new canopy for the entrance. The work is all a warm brass and dark stainless.

~ What is the greatest metal working lesson you've learned to date?
wow, that's a tough one. Always continuing to learn - but I think my favorite process is soldering. The toughest to learn is how to efficiently counteract the way different metals move when welded. This is often overlooked, but is such a huge part of learning how to weld something that is strong and flat and not warped and ugly. Some metal folks approach this with the 'warp now sledge hammer later' approach, but we like to avoid the stress on the piece that a hammer delivers, and develop various tactics of prediction and planning, and making the warping work for the piece - counteracting the warping before and during the welding, not wrestling with it after.

~ What inspires you?
Other craftsman, both contemporary and historically. I'm a fan of work done in the early 1900s - Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eileen Gray...although I prefer their lesser known works that have such a simplicity of natural form and geometry.

~ How do you indulge your creativity outside of Magma?
My husband and I are restoring a 1930's wooden sailboat. Learning about the craft of boat building is fascinating with the complicated dynamics of curves and water performance. I also am in a band with my husband, and love to garden and cook.

And finally..
~ Tell me a little bit about the workshops! Is this the first year you've held them? What can people expect? If a student was to find great interest in this trade, how can they continue their work at home?
Yes, this is new. We have such a great resource here and want to share the fun. I'm trying to keep the instruction as open as possible so that people can help direct the kind of instruction they want depending on what they want to work on. I thought we'd start with instruction once a month, with open access to the studio for continued work. Currently this is every Thursday, and I'm also offering private and group instruction so that I can cater the instruction and time of instruction to the person/group. Groups might be for university or technical school students that don't have access to a metalshop, or architectural/design offices that want to further understand the materials they design with, or a group of friends that have a project they want to work on together, or a community group.....

We are accustomed to the odd request, so we'll be covering a great number of techniques depending on whatever students what to learn - tig welding, mig welding, soldering, forming, machining, fastening methods, finishes...just to name some. The possibilities are endless for repair, new furniture, sculpture, garden items, gizmos, restoration...and we can help set them up with ways to continue working and learning at home. There are small welders available for not too much money, and tools are easy to find. Safety is probably the most important part of it all, and we'll cover that as well.