Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashe Thorne. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When I was 8 years old, I learned to weld with my grandfather on a 1940 Ford truck. We were replacing a rusted piece of panel with a new panel and I got to tack weld it in. It was so scary and exciting, but oddly I did not pursue welding and metal work until much later in my life. I have always been creative, but attending a college preparatory high school definitely hammered into my head that I needed to achieve a degree in the medical or engineering fields if I wanted to be ‘successful’ in life. It wasn’t until 3 years into a pre-med degree that I knew 2 things for certain: (1) I do not like people enough to want to save their lives, and (2) I need art in my life in a much larger capacity. So, I changed my major to Evolutionary and Ecological Biology, added Studio Arts, and later added Art History. I never really believed I was going to be an artist that could live off of my art, but I knew I needed it in my life. For a decade after graduating, I was working professionally as a metal fabricator and welder, while teaching art as a second, part-time job. I had relearned to weld and fabricate with metal during my BFA classes, and this unexpectedly propelled me into a life where I was constantly making things with metal. Once I began to teach blacksmith techniques to beginners, I knew that was my ultimate passion. I am an artist, but my art lies in teaching others in metal working techniques. I do create on my own and will submit to shows on a regular basis, but I didn’t realize that the type of artist I am is not the typical artist path. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I decided to take the risk and fully jump into creating a professional career around my art and artistic skills. I could no longer live my life only feeling like I am achieving my greatness only 15-20% of the time, and the rest of the time I was working for someone else’s dream.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Ashe Thorne is a BIPOC, queer artist local to Colorado. Their obsession with metal began when they were young, working on old hot rods with their grandfather and father. This interest was rekindled at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where they received their BFA and first experienced the art of blacksmith techniques. They have worked in many types of metal fabrication shops that lend to their vast knowledge of tooling and building techniques. Since then they have worked in the arts community for almost a decade, teaching youth and teens at The Art Students League of Denver, as well as traditional coal blacksmith classes hosted at The Wyman Living History Ranch and Museum, through Colorado Northwestern Community College. It was here they learned their love of teaching this art form to others, and has pursued that ever since.

Hardy & Fuller is a unique project that combines several goals to enrich and improve the artistic community in Denver, Colorado. First, to offer a safe space for those underrepresented in specialized metal trades, such as women and the LGBTQ+, disabled, and BIPOC communities. Second, to provide the community with access to a fully equipped shop that facilitates the development and creation of metal artworks. Last, but definitely not least, to build a nonprofit that will fund an artist in residency program, scholarship opportunities for disadvantage youth, as well as any other way we can bring the confidence and strength of metal working to those that need it the most.

We founded this makerspace with a simple idea: that everyone should have access to, and be welcome in, a high level, dedicated space for metal arts. During my time in commercial fabrication shops, I learned quickly that BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled and women presenting persons were few and far between, and the environments of many of these professional spaces were inhospitable and even actively unwelcoming to these groups. Seeing such a huge wealth of knowledge and talent go under-served and un-utilized illustrated a void in the trade that I hope Hardy & Fuller helps fulfill.

Makerspaces are becoming one of the more important ways that people, especially in urban populations, are accessing tools and resources that are outside of what it’s easy to afford, or even be able to store, for the average person. The creative forms and techniques that we employ rely on large, sometimes hazardous, and often highly specialized equipment and by making that equipment available we can help make this contribution towards a thriving arts community here in Denver.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I began this journey, I had to quickly let go of the thought that money is real. I know that may sound crazy, because business requires money and money requires business etc., but once I began fundraising for this space, I quickly realized that $20,000 is like $20 in the business world. In fact, after miraculously finding investors and having them offer me around $160,000 (for equity, so I don’t even owe that money back), that very quickly disappeared during the set up of the space.

Negotiation around money is actually what is real. As a layman, if you can’t pay rent, your landlord will evict you within 30 days. As a business owner, if you can pay rent, you negotiate with the landlords for free months of rent, 1/2 rent, or other solutions. This has definitely been jarring to be thrown into this type of game after living a certain way for my entire life, but it has been crucial for me to accept and use to my advantage.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of what I do is watching the shine of pride and confidence begin to show up in people’s eyes and demeanor during the classes I teach. Most people approach me with an attitude that is resigned to not doing well during the class. When they finish a piece after 4 hours, and realize that not only could they do it, but they created something specific to them and will last for ever, the energy is palpable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hardyandfuller.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardyandfuller/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0n950comzEreNLYS5ha9dA
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hardyandfuller/_saved/