Local metal and wood worker is artist of the month
ZANESVILLE – September ArtCoz artist of the month Charles Leasure works every day on 200 acres of land that has been in his family since 1803.
His methods for casting the metal and refining the wood in pieces, often incorporating both materials, have been handed down for eight generations evolving with both a respect for tradition and the utility made available with modern equipment advances. It is that juxtaposition of re-purposed materials and new form from time-honored craftsmanship and artistry that he will show during First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at Gallery G II in the Masonic Temple Building, 38 N. Fourth St.
Leasure’s earliest memories are from his uncle’s blacksmithing operation as he said, “I still have the first tool he ever taught me to make.”
From a long line of coopers, carpenters and blacksmiths, the Coopermill Bronzeworks foundry is home to a couple of friendly farm cats, the occasional chicken wandering through pecking for a snack and several human assistants. The project capturing everyone’s attention on a cool August morning was a 3-tiered bronze fountain being filled with water for the first time.
“Is it level?” Leasure asked as he applied a practiced eye. “Nothing on this farm is ever level, so we have to adjust all the time.”
The water flowed from one tier to the next with one small area of concern Leasure noticed. “Let’s let it run awhile and watch it. If it’s a leak and not just run-off, we’ll fix it.”
Leasure directed and finished his tour of the foundry where finished bronze pieces on wooden bases await shipping and others wait in different stages of completion. There are commissioned pieces from the foundry all over the United States, South America and even Serbia. In the lunchroom of the foundry, pieces reflecting the artist’s own expression are everywhere.
“Much of what I do are commissioned pieces. I’ve been doing this for 19 years. What got me started,” he mused, before answering with a grin, “I’m otherwise unemployable. I can’t work for anybody else.”
Leasure was formerly a dairy farmer, but had done metal work his whole life, starting with famed local sculptor Alan Cottrill.
“We’ve been best friends since we were 5 years old. We grew up together,” Leasure said.
He recalled going once with Cottrill to a foundry outside of Trenton, New Jersey, to get pieces cast. He took a look around at the operation and told his friend that he could do any casting he needed.
“It started here, on a dirt floor where I used to keep my tractors. I got it started and people found us and needed things to be cast and it grew from there,” Leasure said.
The growing included Leasure doing his own artwork, with woodworking being a more recent addition.
“I never know what I’m going to make until it’s done. I’ll see it in the slab of walnut or somehow start imagining what kind of legs I’m going to give it,” he said. “I don’t know what it will be until I start sanding on it and it shows itself.”
When working on something for himself, it’s usually fixing something that’s broken. When not busy on commissioned pieces, other items usually find themselves into the homes of family and friends. A simple question like his favorite piece is not so simple.
“The next piece. I don’t want to make two things the same. I’m done with this one and I want to move on. I get excited about whatever the next piece will be.”