The Steel Bone Fish

    “When people start ignoring the name of your business and referring to it collectively as something else, it’s time to listen and also time to make the change.”

Here’s a piece, (technically 7 pieces), that I love. Most don’t know that when I first started out in 2001, the name of my gallery was “The Rusted Lava Art Shop”. Please don’t ask; I have no great story or explanation of how and why this came about. Herein lies my issue with the name –  everyone wants to know about your business name (if you’re thinking of starting a business, don’t say I didn’t warn you). If the name of your business is not obvious, you’ll get LOTS of questions. Honestly, answering these questions started to get on my nerves, but luck was on my side.

In about 2002 or 2003 (can’t totally remember), I created my first set of iron fish wall hanging sculpture designs. Immediately, people loved them, and I realized this was a niche I could focus on due to my obsession of the underwater world. Long story short, one night I sketched this large bone fish design and decided to make it one large free standing piece. Because of its scale, I had a hunch it would be a show stopper. I knew just where I’d put it – at the entrance to my gallery. I was positive this would attract people’s eye, and sure enough, it did.

After about a month or so, visitors at my gallery, who could never seem to remember the name (this is a blatant sign your name stinks), started referring to my gallery as “The Iron Fish” because of the big bone fish sculpture out front. When people start ignoring the name of your business and referring to it collectively as something else, it’s time to listen and also time to make the change.

I am now offering this bone fish design for interior application in a few different sizes, and it can be made to fit any wall space you have. I started getting commissions on that piece so often that I decided it would be a great concept to offer my online customers as well. What I love most about this design is that it is created entirely out of my scrap steel. If you look close enough, you can see fish fins, mermaid tail negatives, crab claws, etc. There is an enormous amount of welding involved with this design, but ultimately, it comes out beautifully and no two pieces are ever the same, though from afar they may look very similar.

Each section has a bracket welded to the back side for wall hanging application, and the sculpture typically gets shipped in two boxes or crates. I hope you enjoy these earth tones and how many of my customers have used this coastal sculpture. 

Chase Allen
September 15, 2019