Creating a Great Fire Grate...

I have spoken quite a bit lately of Michael's creativity lighting up like a fire. Probably just as well as the cooler weather has started with a vengeance. Goodbye to shorts and tee shirts. Hello to jeans, trackie daks and windcheaters. We've had to dig out our woolly ugg boots, flannelette shirts and waterproof coats We've lit the Kent tile fire at the House that Rocks for the last two or three days. Michael's next task was to construct a fire grate for our open fire in the East End Gallery.

Like everything Michael does, this is custom made. When he told me he was going to make a fire grate, my response was "that's nice, dear" and promptly forgot about his latest project. One of my deficits is a complete lack of visualisation. Whenever Michael has tried to explain how a sculpture or the flashing around the window or the brick hearth would appear, I would have no idea of the finished result.  Which is quite satisfying in a way, as I am then ultra impressed at his efforts.

On Monday, the Anzac Day public holiday, there was an extraordinary cacophony of sound exiting Michael's workshop. He was at his imaginative best. Many, many years ago, making fire grates were part of his steel fabrication agenda. Fast forward about thirty years and he hadn't forgotten. A quick drawing and he was off and racing. All day.

There is now an 850 millimetres, beautifully simple fire grate installed into the fireplace at the Gallery. This is not a fire grate that will fall apart or melt after a few outings. Made from steel rods, this lovely firegrate will hold its own and provide us with a solid base for our logs.

Now all Michael has to do is make the accompanying mesh fire screen and our fireplace will be ready for blast-off at the East End Gallery.

Watch this space.

Custom made fire screen @ the East End Gallery.