RenewedAspirations

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Jonathan & Arlene Bailey's Iron Age.

Franz says, “Dad was not a certified welder but he certainly was gifted. My parents had purchased some wrought iron stock which had been discarded or forgotten for over a hundred years. I was just a child then but I remember my parents saying they were going to change the “role” in which this metal behaved. At that time of my life I did not fully understand what they [Jonathan and Arlene] meant.” “Dad and Mom always saw the value and beauty in what was discarded or unwanted and they demonstrated this belief where it really mattered most, in the encouragement and comforting of an individual’s spirit.” Jonathan cleaned the iron, then cut and bent that stock into shapes and finally welded all the pieces together. That old forgotten iron was fashioned into life-sized and larger than life stringed instruments which captured the hearts of many. One client, associated with the automobile racing industry, hired Jonathan to construct an instrument that was to include electronics. This instrument was prominently displayed in the lobby of that racing facility. Jonathan also fashioned this worthless iron into other works of art including religious symbols, zodiac plagues, specialty pot racks, trivets, and serving trays. Jonathan even welded broken equipment and repaired the bicycle frames for the neighbors and their children. Jonathan constructed a metal go-cart for his children out of old bicycle frames. The go cart was heavy and during the neighborhood races the cart was a little slow.