Art sculpting

The transition from farm welding to art welding began when the Dolans, who belong to a Master Gardener program in Trenton, wanted to add interest to their gardens.

Gary and Ellen had built a new home south of Trenton on 280 acres of farmland that has been in Ellen's family for over 100 years. "We didn't have mature trees and needed some hardscape to help anchor the flower gardens. So Gary made some obelisks and garden gates," says Ellen.

His design concept is simple: "I think about them, and they just come to me," he says.

The couple decided to sell Gary's iron work through local nurseries and landscaping companies. They also made arrangements to submit the garden items to the gift shop at the Powell Botanical Gardens in Kansas City.

Marketing the art

Just for fun, they added the first wind spinner Gary ever made to the first load of garden gates they took to Kansas City. Later, the Dolans made a gift of the spinner to the Powell Botanical Gardens. It is still on display and attracts attention and potential buyers.

The spinners are made by MIG-welding stainless steel tubing to form a separate base and spinner sphere. Gary shapes the tubing for the spheres on a machine that he made for that specific purpose. He uses a plasma cutter to cut the fins that he attaches to each curved rod in the sphere. The spinner rotates according to wind direction and velocity.

He makes one spinner at a time, sizing it for each customer's needs. The spinners range from 15 to 30 feet tall. "The common size is 15 feet. I have sold the 20-foot height, but never the 30-foot, because I have to make it in sections, and it's hard to move."

The 15-foot spinners sell for about $1,700; the 20-foot spinners sell for approximately $2,500. Gary's work is an integral part of the landscape that surrounds the couple's rural home, a location they both love.

"I'm a big sky person. I like my own space," says Ellen. "I like watching the sun set and seeing the changes each season brings."

"We love nature and enjoy watching all the ducks, geese, and other birds come to our pond," adds Gary.

They have the unique life combination that suits them both: a beautiful home in a rural location, art, nature, and an interesting second career.