The Illustrious Order of Makesmiths

It’s like no other place in the world because it exists in only one place — Blawnox. Walk into the just-opened Illustrious Order of Makesmiths and a wonderland of imagination explodes. To call it a store doesn’t do it justice — a gallery of curiosities is more accurate.

Makesmiths is the vision of Squonk Opera co-founder Steve O’Hearn and his wife, Chief. Both are graduates of the Rhode Island School of Design who have been making “things” for decades. Steve was trained as a set designer and has created the distinctive props and sets for the internationally acclaimed Squonk Opera (The Washington Post described Squonk as “Debussy meets Godzilla”). Chief is a painter, potter and caretaker of “The Deer Creek Book of Hours,” an illuminated manuscript set in Western Pennsylvania.

While Steve has had a solo show at The Andy Warhol Museum and Chief’s work has been shown at the Society for Contemporary Crafts and Chautauqua’s Stroll Art Center, neither is interested in pursuing individual recognition.

“Much like Squonk, where we don’t identify our singularity, by becoming Makesmiths, in a sense Chief and I have renounced the foolish, old-school romance of being artists,” says Steve.

“We’re interested in the doing, not the label,” adds Chief.

And so the concept of Makesmiths arose as a place to both sell their work in the “shoppe” and make their work on-site next door in the “shop.” The couple crafts every piece by hand, and the selection is truly extraordinary.

“We’ve never had the opportunity to have a mom-and-pop store to put our stuff in,” says Steve. “The integration of the workshop with the store is really exciting to us. Making work is not separated from the showing of work. That’s part of the joy in it — using our hands to make things and showing people that they can do the same.”

Makesmiths is the only source for Phone Monstrances — objects Steve finds at flea markets that are repurposed into cell phone holders that amplify the sound. An assortment of oversized wooden wall pies line one wall, but there are also donuts, fruits and vegetables and a menagerie of animals painted by Chief. Prehensile articulated pencils and toothbrushes share space with Snarly Boxes lined with false teeth. Beautifully decorated paper mache cakes open for storage, shaving brushes are crafted from old hammer heads, and vintage album covers are turned into notebooks.

There is also charming pottery as big as lamps and as small as cups, or the found “Re-paintings” that Chief embellishes with her own whimsical touches. The Gluppets — glove puppets made by Steve — can be personalized with a photo of someone’s face. And the walking sticks serve many purposes — for example, one has a horn you can blow if you get lost.

“We hope it’s joyful and fun and has a sense of humor, particularly at a time when we could use all that,” says Chief. “Having opportunities and creating opportunities to connect with our senses and each other at a time when it’s easy to feel separated from each other and even ourselves, Makesmiths is a wonderful way to reconnect with our senses and for people to gather.”

Adds Steve: “It’s all very material — wood and paper mache and canvas and paint. It’s about embracing the senses. People spend so much time looking at screens — this is about using your hands and your senses. It’s not virtual, it’s real.”

The couple chose Blawnox because it’s easy to access from other parts of the city, but even more so for the friendliness of the community they plan to engage with bi-weekly workshops. Makesmiths will host free “Show and Tell” sessions from 4-5 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month and open “Drawing Sessions” the same time on the third Wednesday of the month.

Unlike art galleries, which can charge up to a 50 percent commission, everything in Makesmiths comes directly from the artists. You can watch as they work in the immersive space, and they also accept commissions.

“Making art is such an indulgence and wonderful gift because you allow yourself to follow something that sparks your imagination and calls out to you,” says Chief. “You follow the thread and make unexpected discoveries. I might find a vintage toy and it could inspire me to use the color or the shape to make my own toy. It’s an experience of trust and discovery.”

The Illustrious Order of Makesmiths is located at 334 Freeport Road in Blawnox. Open Wednesdays-Saturdays from 2-6 pm. For more information, go to themakesmiths.com or email info@themakesmiths.com.