About Sondra Gerber & Her Sculptures.
Why aluminum & glass? Aluminum is my preferred alloy choice due to its beautiful sheen, tendency to not corrode, and light weight in comparison to other metals. The "brushed" aluminum paired with kiln formed glass is a match made in heaven. It's stunning together!
How is it made? All Metal Petal Art sculpture is designed by me and then intricately cut by laser. Each piece is then hand ground to create reflective patterns, manually bent, formed and assembled then sealed with a clear coat, all in my home studio. Many pieces are painted with transparent colors to allow the texture of the metal to shine through. More recently, fused glass is created in our glass studio and added to some of the metal sculptures for added color and dimension.
Click here to see videos of our process.
What inspires you? You can truly see my love for nature and gardening in my work. I am greatly inspired by Scandinavian design, mid-century modern and historical master artists. I seek innovative techniques, new technology and have a continued openness for new ideas from life. My lifestyle stays flexible to accommodate this creative process. I can work in the metal shop on sculptures, sketch out new designs in my office, work in my garden for inspiration, or problem solve with my team in the studio. I love dreaming up new ideas and seeing them come to life and the joy it brings to people. I am also continually encouraged and motivated by my husband, Jason.
Where can I purchase Metal Petal Art sculptures? I create pieces for galleries and boutiques across North America. You may also purchase from this site.
Keep your eyes peeled, my sculptures have been installed in many public places.
Are you able to create a sculpture around a specific purpose or theme? I personally custom design pieces for homes, gardens, large or small scale jobs for businesses, donor recognition pieces for non-profits, corporate gifts & architectural accents.
Click here to see examples of commissioned works.
How do you inspire others? Throughout my life, I have been blessed to have a great support system of other creative and business minded people that have come alongside me to encourage, educate and mentor me. I feel strongly about paying that forward. I "adopt" other creatives and entrepreneurs within the handmade market. I often learn just as many new things through mentoring as I do being mentored. I also think it’s necessary for my businesses to be involved by giving time or money to organizations or individuals in our community that we feel led to.
Click here to see one of my "adopted" makers. I am so encouraged by this teens success with his candle business. Plus I LOVE his all natural soy candles.
What is it like to be part of the Metal Petal team? I believe in providing an upbeat, secure, proactive working environment for my small team of assistants. I love to discover what each member is especially enthusiastic about so I can steer projects and training in their direction that fit well with their skill set and job goals. My studio and gallery are also places I feel honored to lead and mentor. I love to encourage each individual and watch him/her bloom! I especially love having coffee time with my team every morning.