Edmonton metal artist finds appreciation for work both big and small

Slavo Cech spends hours alone in his south Edmonton workshopcutting, bending and welding metal into works of art.

"Metal artist, sculptor, artisan, blacksmith I'm not big on titles,"Cechsays. "I do what I do."

Cech was introduced to metal work after asummer job manufacturing Christmas decorations.

Thirty years ago, when he started his own business, he wanted to make a mark and create something big, so he approached a downtown business.

You can still see his creation each Christmas when thetrees on the Telus tower lightup.

"It is quirky enough that somehow it is embraced by the city," Cech said."Many things have come and gone since then and these seemed to resonate with people."

Cech's workhasalso been presented as gifts at governmentfunctions and trade missions,including to the Netherlands and China.

One of his bison statues was presented to Prince Edward when he was in Edmonton for the Commonwealth Games summit.

"There was a lot of pomp and ceremony and it was really neat to be part of the greeting line that was very special," Cechsaid.

Cech is inspired by the appreciation of his work.

"Sometimes you are in you dark backroom, grinding and cutting There is a lot of transference of energy that goes into creating this, not just from a metallurgical standpoint, but from theenergy of the artist to the piece that he is creating," Cech said.

"So it really makes my heart feel good that there is a resonance and that people really appreciate that creation."