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

Drew , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Over the past almost 20 years I’ve worked with artist, galleries, museums, municipalities, and government bodies all over the world. And in those years I’ve developed so many skills that have gotten me to where I am today.. Teamwork is one of my favorite words and collaboration is really the best way to go about that. You’ll never make your own flame brighter by blowing someone else’s out. So I find it extremely important to listen up and work together. Most of the work I do is based around incorporating the use of steel into sculptural works. Some history of work I helped build, fabricate and erect ranges from large scale sculpture for artists like Roxy Paine, Louise Joséphine Bourgeois, Thomas Houseago, Tom Sachs, among many others. I’ve designed, fabricated, managed large teams with strict budgets, shipped, and installed sculptures all over the world. From the roof of the Metropolitan museum of art, National gallery of art in Jerusalem, Munich, Sydney biennial, the mall in DC, Crystal Bridges for Alice Walton, sustainable dive reefs in the British Virgin Islands and much more.  I’ve worked for one of the most successful and best foundries I think in the country https://bollingeratelier.com . However most of my recent work is for my own business Velvet Anvil and work in the British Virgin Islands. Where I design, build, fabricate, and manage multi-lingual crews of all nationalities to build sustainable reefs, and other marine or aquatic themed sculpture to bring awareness to the world through the eye of the Caribbean. I’ve built sculptures for Richard Branson and his non profit Unit BVI. https://unitebvi.com/index.html?region=us .  Chris Jurdain Of Beyond the Reef https://1beyondthereef.com  and commercial dive services. Along with many other government entities in the caribbean. Below are links to works I’ve been a part of and works of my own along with attachments of personal work.

Bollinger Atelier
https://bollingeratelier.com/portfolio/
-(I’ve managed, built, and installed a large number of their portfolio)

Richard Branson

https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/rescuing-kodiak-queen 
-( I designed a kraken for this ship, made a maquette, and built to scale the kraken on the 150′ in the bay of Road Town in the British Virgin Islands. Then scuttled ship off of his island for a sustainable reef. As shown in the video filmed by Rob Sorrenti and narrated by Kate Winslet)

Chris Jurdain
Owner and operator of: http://commercialdivebvi.com https://1beyondthereef.com http://www.bviscubadive.com

-It is with Chris Jurdain where I find the truest form of what I can do with my skills. All of the work I have done for Chris and his non profit Beyond The Reef have been the most rewarding projects of my life. The projects I’ve accomplished with his full trust and support have created some amazing and impactful pieces for the BVI. Most of the sculptures are made to then be sunk for sustainable reefs. When snorkeling or scuba diving in the waters of the BVI, money from the dives go towards local charities for children. Like swimming programs, marine education, entrepreneurship, and many other charities. Pieces range from turning hurricane salvaged planes into sharks, old ship party barges into pirate ships, Pearl Harbor reclaimed ships into an 80 foot kraken then sunk for a reef, and many other wrecks. But my favorite piece however is one in which I designed a 46′ Humpback Whale out of rebar, which we then covered with foam, then cast it in resin. We glassed it like the hull of a boat and painted it to give it a life like feel. We then welded it atop a large trailer to make it mobile. Children are able to go inside the mouth of the whale were we have an air conditioned room with educational videos, pamphlets, vr headsets and much more. Teaching them about the whales of the BVI and Caribbean, especially the humpbacks which I have seen first hand on the Beyond the Reef whaling research boat. This project has changed my life and will be the main focus of my work moving forward.

Aside from the works listed above I have my own company in Asheville NC. Where I design, build, fabricate, make, play, and much more. With a multitude of work- ranging from architectural elements, restaurants, landscaping elements, furniture, antique car work, lighting, industrial, commercial, jewelry, and so much more.. Work ranges from 12′ dragons, to 200′ Corten planters sweeping across landscapes, to stainless apple water features, and a much more. I also just started a grill company called Velvet Moss. Where I have parterned up with friend and well known BBQ chef Elliot Moss. I can make anything a client dreams up or I can work from an inspiration you want fulfilled. Or you can give me an open pallet and let me go.

Velvet Anvil
http://www.thevelvetanvil.com
https://ashevillemade.com/built-to-scale/
https://www.velvetmoss.net

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.

Im Drew Shook. From Hendersonville; N.C. Grew up in this area. When I was younger I moved to the coast at an attempt for college. I wasn’t suited for the college life. After an accident breaking my back, I felt a needed to find something I was into. A bit lost and dabbling in many avenues I fell upon metalwork and went full steam in that direction. It led me all over the country where I found interesting work at evey stop. From NYC, Chicago, LA, Phoenix, abroad, and then back home. I now travel for work often aside from what I do here in Asheville.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What I enjoy most about being creative is when a client or person of interest contacts me about a really difficult project or job they have. These odd and difficult projects can seem pretty overwhelming and they often are. Daunting even. The intimidation factor of these large projects is what I like the most. Seeing how difficult a project is scares me into wanting to do it even more. So when I take on these projects and complete them with success. That is the most rewarding part of what I do along with the benefits of what each piece might provide to a community.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal has always been to be a philanthropist. Im far from being able to do that. But I do hope in some way I’m providing some sense of that with what I do. Mainly through the charities that benefit from my work. But not only that, another driving factor is to just make really amazing things with great people and hopefully get to travel in the process when doing so.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.thevelvetanvil.com
• Instagram: velvetavnil

Image Credits
Jacquline Rose Franqueze Owen Buggy