We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adrianna Fickett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adrianna below.

Adrianna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

I started my journey in the trades studying drafting and design, and worked as an engineering assistant. I quickly learned that I did not enjoy being stuck behind a desk though. In 2015 I went to a trade school in Denver. At the time, there was only one other woman in the entire school. It was in the classroom that I got my first taste of sexism in a male dominated field, and the hurtful words were delivered by none other than an instructor. The challenge for the day was to weld “out of position” in an uncomfortable situation. So I got on my knees to better stabilize myself to weld. The instructor came into my booth and said, “I can’t have you welding on your knees as it will give the guys a bad impression, and it’s not a good look for your dignity.” I was taken aback by his statement, but retorted with, “if I’m welding well and am comfortable, why does it matter?”
I ended up graduating with high honors and had my pipe welding certification was sponsored.

Various welding jobs along the way were also filled with adversity. One job that I interviewed for, the shop manager looked puzzled as I walked in. “Oh, I thought your resume said Adrian but I realize now it’s Adrianna. That’s okay though…” He gave me a half hearted tour then we approached a stack of metal. “You would have to lift this material all day, and you’re quite tiny so I’m not sure if this is a good fit.” With my usual ‘let me prove you wrong attitude,’ I swiftly picked up the material and placed it on the table. He scrunched his eyebrows and we walked back up to the office area. I did not get the job.

In another shop I was hired to weld stainless steel and aluminum. The shift manager in charge would give me the “shit jobs” while the two other new guys got to work on interesting projects and would take long breaks with the manager. As annoyed as I was, I just kept my head down, determined to prove myself. We had a second shift guy working on the same project as myself, and we stamped off on what we completed. A large batch of what we finished returned to us failed from quality control. I overheard the shift manager speaking to the quality controller and said, “see, I knew we shouldn’t have hired her.” The manager got myself and the second shift guy together to discuss the bad parts. We looked over what had failed and who had stamped off on them. None of the failed parts were mine.

Through the years I stayed focused on honing my skills and mastering my craft. Now when people have doubts, I just put my hood down and let me quality speak for itself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began my welding career in 2015 after graduating from Lincoln College of Technology in Denver, Colorado. I have a background in construction, structural welding, high pressure vessel welding, and custom fabrication. Some of my favorite pass projects include custom motorcycle fabrication, welding high pressure stainless steel pipes for pumps and compressors, and fabricating jeep trailers. Under my business, Maiden Metals, I do light repairs and custom fabrications, but also create furniture, plant stands, sculptures, outdoor art, and home decor.

What sets me apart from other artists is my stylized expression that all my pieces have. Many works can be described as nature-inspired, geometric, minimalistic, rustic, and sometimes with a western flare. My many years spent living in Arizona and in the mountains of Colorado really shine through in my art. Another unique attribute is that I place high importance on upcycling metal and utilizing reclaimed wood.

My driving forces are a strong passion for building something out of nothing, empowering other women in the industry, and the practical and artistic applications of welding.

I am most proud of my determination in the face of adversity while navigating a male dominated field. There were many opportunities where I could have given up, but my “prove them wrong” attitude drove me forward into becoming the proud welder and business owner that I am today.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is inspiring others that might think this path is not an option for them. When I do art fairs, I love asking customers if they have ever tried welding before. Most either say, “oh no that’s scary, I could never do that” or “it always looked cool, but I never really had an opportunity to.” Most of these replies are from women. I let them know that I have taught many women how to weld before. I then see their eyes light up and often get asked, “do you teach classes here? I would love to try it!” I think when other women see that another female is doing something that they may be interested in, it can be calming yet inspire them to try something like this too. For me, this is so rewarding as I love what I do and it would be a dream of mine to encourage others to do the same.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Being an artist is not easy. Larger businesses have name and brand recognition, and can reach a massive audience. Now, anyone can buy cheap “art” on Amazon. For society to best support artists, shopping small is so important. Connecting with one’s community helps the neighbors within your community, and not some billionaire on a distant island. Interacting and engaging with local artists also helps foster a creative ecosystem. Many artists (myself included) enjoy giving back to the community as well by discussing their art or process with others, or maybe teaching their craft. This can create a loop where art is being cycled through the community, and honing that creative ecosystem.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maidenmetalswelding.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maiden_metals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maidenmetals/