Jake James is pounding red hot steel in Metchosin, busily creating functional art for the village core.

James is creating two posts resembling Garry oak trees that will hold a commercially made aluminum signs stating B次元官网网址淲elcome to MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 village core.B次元官网网址�

James was hired by the District to create art posts. The project will replace a wooden sign, which rotted due to the elements.

While steel will rust, James explained, it will be made of such heavy plate it wont deteriorate in any of our lifetimes.

B次元官网网址淛ake is a talented local blacksmith,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Moralea Milne. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 (going to be) a little bit of public art incorporated into a functional use.B次元官网网址�

Council approved $7,400 from the business development fund for the signs in December.

B次元官网网址淎fter discussions with our local businesses in the village centre last year, they determined they would like some signs that are welcoming and unique and that let people know they are entering Metchosin village,B次元官网网址� Milne said.

The signs are expected to be installed in front of the municipal grounds on Happy Valley Road and in front of the heritage church on Metchosin Road in April.

When designing the pieces James made sure to incorporate a rural and organic feel to reflect the attitudes of Metchosin.

B次元官网网址淭hey are going to be steel plates riveted together,B次元官网网址� James said. B次元官网网址淭hey will have a natural oxide finish.B次元官网网址�

With a chuckle James explained that means theyB次元官网网址檒l be rusted.

B次元官网网址淚 am just going to brush it up and chuck it outside, and theyB次元官网网址檒l rust. Eventually everything goes rust anyway,B次元官网网址� James said.

The finishing touch to the pieces will be a clear coat to prevent rust rubbing off on people who may touch the signs.

In his workshop, James uses propane fire as well as a coke fire, a fire fueled by already burned coal. B次元官网网址淪o then there is no smoke or dust,B次元官网网址� James said adding, B次元官网网址渢he propane furnace is more economical.B次元官网网址�

James works with an assortment of hammers and tongs but for big jobs he uses a B次元官网网址減ower hammer,B次元官网网址� an enormous mechanical forging hammer that stands taller than James.

B次元官网网址淚 swing a three and half or four pound  hammer by hand. The 200-pound power hammer does in one hit what would take me half an hour,B次元官网网址� James said.

This is not the first public art piece that James has created. His artwork can be seen in the James Bay in front of the Serious Coffee on Menzies Street and in Beacon Park in Sidney.

In James Bay the piece is of a lady on a bike with a coffee and cellphone crashing into a tree.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a commentary on how busy we are,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n Sidney itB次元官网网址檚 a lady power walking with a silly little pocket dog.B次元官网网址�

James, 34, and has been a blacksmith for 12 years. He attended a blacksmith school in England and then trained for three years under a master blacksmith.

While he lives in Sooke, James has been operating his business Jake James Artist Blacksmith Inc. in Metchosin for six years.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com