Metal Art

Robin, Dominic and I have made several trips to the British Virgin Islands. One of our favorite places to hang out is Trellis Bay. This well protected anchorage is nestled next to the airport on Beef Island. Trellis is one of the more populated places in the islands, it sports a few beach bars, a couple of art galleries, grocery store, and an internet cafe with great coffee. We have stopped there on each visit to the islands.

During the full moon, Trellis bay transforms into a family friendly outdoor party. Complete with mocko jumbies (stilt walkers), artists, food, live music, and fire!

The photo above is an old anchor or marker buoy that has been cut with a plasma cutter. The tessellations form an artists impression of the island people standing strong and holding up the sun or sky. There are several of these in Trellis Bay and during the full moon. The artists of Trellis push or roll these tessellated shapes into knee-deep water. They are filled with dry kindling and set ablaze in a most remarkable display to celebrate the full moon.

Many of the members of Beaver Lake Sailing Club have traveled to Trellis Bay and sampled some of the local flavor. Everyone it seems, has found these burning orbs captivating. When my friend Tom approached me about an old 1000 gallon propane tank that was collecting dirt at Mike's house in Elkins, an great idea was set in motion.

First, how to get the propane tank somewhere where could work on it. Well with some Egyptian engineering (using round pipes to roll this behemoth) we managed to load this tank on a flat bed trailer. It took several hours and 4 guys, chains, come-alongs, a tractor, and a stout Toyota 4Runner to coax this tank aboard the trailer. We did this in early May when the ground was wet and slippery.

Next, we hauled the tank to my good friend Jimmie's shop in Fayetteville. Jimmie, now retired, has much experience working with things metal, he used to build racing car frames and suspension components for the dirt track folks around the area. Jimmie also has a large selection of grown up toys. A wire feed welder, a plasma cutter, and many other cool devices all dedicated to cutting, slicing, or joining metal.

So, we spent an entire day sectioning this tank into smaller more manageable pieces. It was no easy task as this tank had held flammable gas at one point in its life. Putting a plasma torch to this enclosed tank was a bit unnerving. We cut it open and began to create art.

As it turns out Jimmie's plasma cutter was working at its maxium capacity and cutting was fairly slow going. Enter Jesse, of White River Hardwoods, who had a much more macho plasma torch that sliced though the 1/2 inch thick steel like a hot knife though butter. Add another entire day and part of a morning and the tank was beginning to look a lot like the fire art we have all enjoyed the in the BVI.

Today, was the last and final push for finishing the tank. There was much grinding to do to even the rough edges left by the plasma torch. Using a grinder and Jimmie's advice, I worked for several hours and leveled things up a bit. Then off to the scrap metal place for chimney and by the days end, we have an awesome looking outdoor fire pit.

The years enscribed (1979-2009) represent Beaver Lake Sailing Club's 30 year presence in Molder Hollow. We'll start a fire this weekend during the Founder's Regatta to commemorate this auspicious event.