Bronze, Fire, and Final Touches: Geoffrey C. Smith's Foundry Visit

There’s nothing quite like the hum of the foundry—heat in the air, sparks in the dark, and the quiet rhythm of a team that knows the language of metal by heart. I just returned from a trip out west to visit the foundry, and as always, it felt like coming home to the place where dreams harden into bronze.

This time, we were putting the finishing touches on a few long-awaited pieces—including a life-size Florida panther in a lighter, more experimental patina. Panthers are usually finished in deep darks to mirror their elusive nature, but I wanted to try something new, something that plays with light rather than disappearing into it. Seeing it come to life in this new form was a thrill.

I also worked on several smaller pieces that are close to completion which will be in the studio in the near future. These are the quiet moments of sculpture—the ones where every angle is checked, every patina is balanced just right, and final touches make all the difference. It’s where instinct takes over.

But the real milestone was completing the monumental eagle tree destined for Port St. Lucie. This sculpture has been in production since 2021—a true labor of love and patience. Standing beside it at the foundry, I felt the weight of its journey: years of planning, sculpting, casting, welding, and now, finally, patina. This will be one of the largest installations I’ve done, and it’s nearly ready to fly.

Every visit reminds me of the alchemy involved in this work. Clay becomes wax. Wax becomes bronze. Bronze becomes presence.

I’ll never stop being in awe of that.

—Geoffrey Smith