LEFT: Four whimsical creatures are captured in steel as they frolic
on the backs of bar stools in the kitchen area. The third figure
from the left is one of Mollie’s favorites, which she calls a
"doodlebug"; it actually represents a shaman, whose long ears
are said to help him commune with the spirits.
Mollie, the owner of Myers Massie Studios, creates a unique and beautiful form of art by cutting, shaping and welding pieces of steel together. Her eye-catching sculptures range from coat racks to end tables, chandeliers to candlesticks. Her style is primitive, yet contemporary - a style that complements log homes, which blend rustic charm with modern design.
A large number of the images Mollie uses in her work are gleaned from rock art - paintings (pictographs) and carvings (petroglyphs) left behind by a people who roamed the earth thousands of years ago. Mollie preserves these images in a masterful and creative presentation of steel and light, telling new stories with centuries-old motifs.
Mollie's passion for antiquities has led her on trips to visit petroglyph and pictograph sites with archaeologists and into resale shops in search of little treasures. "I love old things that have a story to them," Mollie said.
She has been rewarded with a host of ideas for her metallic creations. Many of her designs are inspired by the paintings and pottery of the Membres Indians, who lived in Southwestern New Mexico from 950 to 1150 A.D. Although the tribe has disappeared, their creations remain preserved in Mollie's art. The deer (candlesticks) were uncovered in Texas, where American Indians drew realistic pictures of their prey, calling upon hunting magic to make their endeavors successful.
Mollie's knowledge about ancient cultures provides a foundation for her stories. One figure which appears frequently in Mollie's art is the Anasazi flute player, representing good luck - which will hopefully be passed on to the inhabitants of its new home. Other images, like the sinuous plumed serpent featured on the back of a bar stool, were created by the Toltecs of ancient Mexico to embody their god of learning.
Her pieces are not only unique and beautiful but also functional. While art is meant to be looked at and admired, Mollie thinks it can also be used and appreciated in everyday life. "I love preserving these ancient images in a form that people can use and enjoy everyday," Mollie said.
Prancing deer captured in steel could be used to decorate an empty wall, or to form part of a holder for firewood. The handles used on hearth tools and doors are chosen because of their striking appearance and their ability to fit comfortably in the palm of one's hand.
The contrast between glowing light and dark steel adds to the mystery and beauty of Mollie's steel sculpture. The shadows they cast, the images they highlight, and the striking profiles they create add a mystic aura to any log home. Dancing figures radiate from cutouts on a light sconce; firelight flickers through a detailed firescreen; sunbeams shift and throw splashes of light through a steel-topped table. The effect is truly illuminating.
Mollie does mostly commissioned work, keeping busy with requests from all over the country, including a number from log home owners. Mollie enjoys getting to know her clients and being able to create art that is meaningful and personal. When creating a piece for a particular room, Mollie tries to incorporate motifs which fit the setting. The dining room chandelier... took its shape as Mollie imagined the variety of dinner guests who would share good times, good food, and good company at the table below. A couple strolls along one arm, while a muscle-bound figure supports the chandelier on the bottom tier. One guest, having gotten his fill of wine and dinner, crawls along another steel branch.
Mollie helps her clients pick out figures which are particularly significant to them, and uses these images to tell a story about the home and its inhabitants. A firescreen features a bear and a dancing eagle - figures which the husband and wife chose to portray themselves in a collage of steel cutouts. It also contains spirals - ancient symbols for water - and boats which represent the family's home in Whistler, British Columbia.
And Mollie has her own story to tell as well. An English major with an art history minor, Mollie graduated from Hollins College near Roanoke, Virginia in 1969. After college Mollie was self-employed, holding a number of design related positions before returning to school in 1988 to earn her M.B.A. at the University of Colorado.
Mollie was working in Denver restoring historic buildings when a long-time acquaintance, Fred Myers, approached her with a very serious question. He had been diagnosed with cancer, and doctors said he only had six months to live; he wanted to pass along his studio and his knowledge to Mollie. He asked Mollie to become his apprentice and learn the art of steel sculpture.
At first, Mollie declined; it was a crazy idea, and she knew next to nothing about metalworking. Yet she finally did accept and was rewarded with a small miracle: Fred Myers' cancer went into remission and Mollie was able to work with him for a full two years until his death in the spring of 1990.
Myers Massie studio has since moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where Mollie currently lives with her husband, Hein Poulus, and two young sons, Kees and Robert. Her love of "old things that have a story" has translated into a thriving business and a beautiful collection of original works.
Mollie's art speaks volumes without saying a word. Her stories, cast in steel, are simple in their design but rich in their meaning. Insight and creativity help her to create works of steel art, and her clients provide the context to complete the tale.
RIGHT: The mother bear, poised in mid-stride, lumbers along the
bottom of a realistic firescreen.
LEFT: The honey-coloured logs of the spacious hallway and staircase
are accented with Massie works. An orb-like chandelier hovers
above the staircase, while a steel sconce lights the way down
the hall.
RIGHT: A bear cub, stranded high in a pine tree, looks down at
its family
LEFT: The deer images in these candlesticks come from a native
people of Texas who believed that capturing their quarry in a
drawing would give them a successful hunt.
RIGHT: American Indian rock art inspired the handles for this
set of fire tools, including images of a shield, a flute player,
and the "doodlebug."
LEFT: An eagle and a bear, chosen to represent the husband and
wife, dance along the crossbar of a chandelier over the billard
table.