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Adjusting to a new workspace

This month I began working on sculptures at a different shop, a new space from the one where Brown Dog Welding began. I guess I underestimated the mental aspect of becoming comfortable at another bench, in a unique building, around fresh faces. It took me a couple of nights to get back into the groove, but I think I found it.

Since my wife, the dogs, and I have moved to Detroit, we’ve been looking for a new shop. Several times we thought we found the place (I even wrote about one, which didn’t happen but still could be in play long-term), but in the end, I was still sans a workspace. With SEMA fast approaching, I needed even a temporary answer to put out some new pieces, so we revisited a spot we’d looked at last year.

Five years ago, Phil Cooley, a local entrepreneur and all around good dude, started a job incubator slash small business accelerator slash creative workspace slash coffee shop slash woodshop slash blacksmith shed slash community learning center slash add your idea here kind of thing called Ponyride in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood.

I know it’s been five years ‘cuz we attended its fifth anniversary fundraising dinner last night. It was a supercool event with an eclectic mix of patrons, tenants, community leaders, and incredible food cooked by local chefs. The impact than an idea, a dream, and work ethic can have on a community was in clear focus and definitely inspiring.

Anyway, there’s a spot in the back of the Ponyride building that Phil offered to me a while back. It’s kind of a tight fit, but I decided to adapt and overcome. I didn’t bring all of my equipment and metal, but I came with enough to get going and made sure it’s mostly mobile, so when I’m not there, my junk isn’t in the way too much.

At General Dynamics in the prototype shop where I work, we’ve been balls to the wall with seven-day work weeks and a lot of travel. About a month ago, I fit in enough time to “set up” down in Corktown, and most spare moments since I’ve spent down there. It’s a five-minute drive or 15-minute bike ride from our loft, so while it’s an adjustment from having a shop right behind our house, it’s pretty close.

The first few nights I sort of felt like I was walking on eggshells. “It’s weird working with other people around,” I remarked to my wife.

“Uh . . . you do that every day at GD, Josh,” she replied.

Yeah, but it’s different. In prototype you have to be creative, but it’s not personal. Art is personal. Sculpture is personal. Letting myself be in that mindspace in a shared space took some time.

The first piece to come from the new shop is a very special piece, commissioned by a friend to memorialize a loved one lost. I’m honored to have been entrusted with this project. It’s a 1963 Chevy C10, and while I need to build the base and add a few details, I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out thus far. It’s only my second sculpture of the year, and, man, it feels good to be back in the saddle.

All images courtesy of Brown Dog Welding.

About the Author
Brown Dog Welding

Josh Welton

Owner, Brown Dog Welding

(586) 258-8255