WING SURFACE BENCH has fan-like seating that relieves the hesitation to take a seat. The contour of the seat surface and the height of the horizontal arc provide ergonomic support at the small of the back. The corners are rounded and the surface is low.  The contour crease and the tight semicircle are a deterrent for sleeping. It can withstand inadvertent contact from maintenance equipment.  The longevity is much greater than the conventional park bench with wooden slats.

"What part of Dwight’s campus is more symbolic and recognizable than the two double hand-forged iron front doors?  These doors, dubbed the “School of Spirits Entrance,” were designed by metalsmith artist James Garvey, former Dwight parent (Sara ’95, Constance ’98, and Noah ’99) and the husband of Dwight’s architect Barbara Marks, who consulted on the project.  The doors were donated to Dwight in 1994.

Directly atop a thick textured granite slab threshold, each door stands 9 feet by 5 feet and weighs 1,000 pounds.   For anyone who has ever crossed this portal, you know just how hard it is to open these enormous doors.  That, according to the artist, was precisely the point.  He wanted students to realize that you need to make an effort to learn, so students “are obliged to overcome their inertia in order to enter.”  This also had the double meaning that once students were inside this learning community, they would feel safe.

The ornamental design of the doors contains 90 hand-forged figures with upheld arms, interspersed with inverted spike/star-like shapes.  Reflecting Dwight’s ‘Spark of Genius’ philosophy, these doors “were designed with the theme of children as stars, whether as individuals or unified as teams, aspiring to even greater heights.”  One looking closely at the doors may notice that on each of the doors one figure looms larger than the others.  Few know that this had been a tribute to Radomir, Dwight’s larger-than-life Master Teacher who passed away last year. 

Finally, the doors make evident the long hours of hard work and craftsmanship required to produce this architectural metalwork.   This reminds students of the work ethic expected at Dwight for them to reach their potential."

from Dwight Today, 2007 

The transom above the double doors, reaching 13 feet in height, consists of  twenty-five emblems/shields of chased brass, that represent  ivy league schools in USA and Europe.  The Dwight Crest is a sculptural interpretation by Mr. Garvey  based upon the graphic version of the Yale chapter for Dwight. The crests are surrounded by flame-like designs. The flame pattern was actually designed by Garvey’s daughter, Constance ’98.

A series of Lariat Bollards will make a vehicle free zone to protect pedestrians and property. The handhold is welcome, especially during slippery conditions. The surfaces are rounded and friendly. Lariat Bollards can flex in order to handle various forms of collision. The base loop acts as a curb; the steering is forced away from the fixture while the body of the vehicle is not damaged. For mishaps such as backing up, the bumper comes in contact with the belt loop;  it is capable of deflecting five inches without damaging the fixture. An out of control vehicle has considerable impact force that is absorbed in two stages; first the belt loop is deflected five inches and contacts the vertical bar; then the resistance doubles as the central stem of the Bollard bends and continues to arrest the momentum; it deflects five more inches. 

LARIAT HAND RAIL can be seen in Central Park near 97th Street and Central Park West. This rail is like a low branch running parallel to the slope of the steps; the pathway is unobstructed. One can notice the flex. The posts are anchored deep. This solid frame cannot rust from the inside to the outside as happens with tubular steel fabrication. Unlike countless cast iron counterparts that have disappeared, this structure can endure. the Newell post is 5' square bar, the posts are 3" square bar, the rail is 2" round bar. 

It is a friendly obstruction with soft profile and rounded surfaces. The cone suspends the plastic bag without tearing; it restricts large articles and prevents unloading due to wind. In regard for pedestrian traffic, the forged frame can withstand vehicle impact.  It is 42 inches tall, made with 2' diameter steel bar.

PLANK BENCH will adapt to varying slopes because of the A-frame structure.  It has no rigid joint; this makes it resilient when impact occurs.  They don’t need to be anchored because they are long, awkward, and heavy. The components are rugged; they can endure vehicle impact; they can flex and tumble and be repositioned. The bracket is forged 2 inch round bar, the plank is 4" X 12".

This is a friendly obstruction with soft profile and rounded surfaces. The cone suspends the plastic bag without tearing; it restricts large articles and prevents unloading due to wind. In regard for pedestrian traffic, the forged frame can withstand vehicle impact. 

These will inevitably be hit by a parking vehicle. Compared to a rigid fixture, a Lariat Tree Guard can flex; it will endure impact from parking. Three ‘ground claws’ have a loose grasp upon the base ring; when there is contact, the entire fixture shifts slightly and signals the driver to stop. The double vertical posts are designed for torsion; it enables the top hoop to deflect five inches and recover.   The hoop is wide to allow for tree growth; it can split in half to enable replanting; this makes installation friendly to the roots. The top hoop is strong enough to serve as a seat; it prevents a gnash to the bark, as car doors swing open. The two halves of the frame assemble around the tree with a riveted lap joint. The ‘ground claws’ have anchor rods going 18 inches deep. 

LARIAT BOLLARD will make a vehicle free zone to protect pedestrians and property. The handhold is welcome, especially during slippery conditions. The surfaces are rounded and friendly. Lariat Bollards can flex in order to handle various forms of collision. The base loop acts as a curb; the steering is forced away from the fixture while the body of the vehicle is not damaged. For mishaps such as backing up, the bumper comes in contact with the belt loop;  it is capable of deflecting five inches without damaging the fixture. An out of control vehicle has considerable impact force that is absorbed in two stages; first the belt loop is deflected five inches and contacts the vertical bar; then the resistance doubles as the central stem of the Bollard bends and continues to arrest the momentum; it deflects five more inches. 

LARIAT BIKE STAND can secure twelve bicycles. Because the four tethers swing out from the top of the armature, the area remains obstruction free when not in use. This tall friendly structure can be seen from afar as riders approach; they have a handhold to dismount. The stiff tethers are a deterrent for swinging and horsing around; they have a soft rubber sleeve, designed to ‘not scratch’.

PLANK BENCH will adapt to varying slopes because of the A-frame structure.  It has no rigid joint; this makes it resilient when impact occurs.  They don’t need to be anchored because they are long, awkward, and heavy. The components are rugged; they can endure vehicle impact; they can flex and tumble and be repositioned.

Urban Monks Bike Stand have a handhold to dismount. They are securely mount onto varying slope surfaces with three ground spheres. One stand can secure three bikes.

GILL KIOSK is a sidewalk shelter, a tall spire with a slanted front; it can be seen from several blocks away. The openings are not glazed; they create an optical effect called, line moiré; this effect serves to sustain one’s interest over decades; overlapping parallel lines appear to run into each other much faster than the rate of movement. As a commuter driving across the GW Bridge, this effect continues to be interesting each time I cross over. At night, the interior is lit and the effect is more pronounced.  The wide eave provides shelter from wind blown rain and it prevents climbing The structure could serve as a multi-purpose shelter: information kiosk, ticket booth, rest room, elevator entrance, emergency supply station, or a bus stop.

LARIAT SEAWALL FENCE is not a security barrier; it is a friendly safety measure. At the edge where big water meets the land, there is an invitation to relax. People will have contact, joggers sometimes fall, and the pale work is curved round bar sloping away from the fall; pedestrians linger and lean upon the wide wooden plank that slants toward the onlookers, it deters sitting. The pale work is a continuous band of interlocking tentacles like the outer wall of an ancient Celtic settlement. It is not vulnerable to the brittle fate of cast iron; it is impervious to damage by maintenance equipment. 

BARRIER STARS is a portable obstruction to establish a crowd boundary. Two men can place the stars using a boom Truck. A star can also be tumbled into position by a pair of laborers tipping the fixture on two spires. They have a WWII predecessor known as German Hedgehogs that were on beaches of Normandy.  The shape is an effective obstacle for an advancing vehicle. 

SCHOOL OF SPIRITS BALUSTRADE is slightly smaller than a child. Each morning, as the students arrive, these forged friends greet them. 

WING SURFACE BENCH has fan-like seating that relieves the hesitation to take a seat. The contour of the seat surface and the height of the horizontal arc provide ergonomic support at the small of the back. The corners are rounded and the surface is low.  The contour crease and the tight semicircle are a deterrent for sleeping. It can withstand inadvertent contact from maintenance equipment.  The longevity is much greater than the conventional park bench with wooden slats.

LARIAT GATEWAY is a multi purpose urban fixture. The massive weight of the vertical ballast sections enable placement without anchoring to substructure. The ballast panels can provide emergency supply storage, crowd control, or they could house a scanning device, or function as a turnstile fixture. The transom area could provide a place for air quality sensors, lighting, security POV, or transmission antennae…

HAMMERED SPHERES AND HANDLES are realized with a craftsman’s mentality; they are anti-identical. Solid bronze bars are individually forged; each piece is formed by eye using skilled expertise. These are conceived as aesthetic ornaments for existing masonry fixtures. They have proven effective as a deterrent for skateboarding. Spheres have facets and handholds have JG Bends that are left handed or right handed. All the pieces are permanently anchored with custom anchor rods; the fastening detail is seamless; this approach has proven effective against theft without exception. 

CRYPTIC COLUMN STREET LIGHT is an impression of forces that transform sinuous strength into an ethereal wash. It is proposed that the hand forged tetrahedron frame is created using local participation with a traveling facility at the site in order to establish a metaphysical presence with the neighborhood. It is set up on a plinth as it cools.  Three spires impale the carbon fiber luminaire. A cloud of ionized gas hovers tightly to the carbon fiber vessel; this gas is energized at night to provide general lighting. The gold inner surface of the luminaire creates a 15-foot diameter patch of daylight at the base.

LARIAT SEAT LOOPS are a good place to rest for the brief period before the train arrives; the vertical bar is a handhold. At the ends, the bar swells to three inches in diameter. Each end is tapped to receive custom bolts. These are tamper proof, forged bronze, hemisphere shaped bolt heads.  The 14 lariat Seat Loops at 33rd Street Station serve as architectural earrings, a complement for this National Historic Landmark site. 

LARIAT TAPER is derived from the Lariat Seat Loops at 33rd Street Station with two added conceits, the five-foot long forged bronze taper, and the square to round transition at the base.  This installation maintains an unbroken rhythm along nine columns on the uptown platform. This functional art work is a compliment for the 1904 precedent that lives on at this Historic National Landmark station.

FORGED PAGE is an announcement board for a public space such as the platform at the train station. It is a freestanding classical picture frame; the forged steel is recessed to mount a display screen, a map, or a poster. The back side is contoured; it can be fitted with alcoves to provide pedestrian supplies such as, extinguisher, First Aid Kit, defribulator, intercom/alarm.

FLYWHEEL SWING deals with the danger. Onlookers tend to stand in the path of the swing getting a full body block on a conventional swing design. The flywheel is designed to go half as fast; it conserves the momentum; it goes just as high as an old school swing.  The seat is a pneumatic form that is similar to a basketball; it significantly reduces injury due to collision.  The frame is forged steel with a ballast style base.  The tether is stiff to prevent horsing around. The paver surface is a soft surround that will serve to reduce injury if someone falls.

STAR PLANTER is like a boulder on a crowded sidewalk. This friendly obstruction creates intentional turbulence and small coves are created between the spires.  There is a waist high flat surface; a tall planting rises from the center; a senior can hover for a moment to stabilize them self; a tourist can halt and it is ‘not’ an inappropriate annoyance for everyone else. 

MESA SLIDE is a half conduit embedded into a contoured ground. The landing area accommodates a generous queue for take off.  There is such fun to be had, to shoot out of the ravine like an avalanche. The paver surface is a soft surround that will serve to reduce injury if someone falls.

MAYPOLE is a tall friendly structure that will attract onlookers from far away. Two tethers swing out from the top of the armature; the area remains obstruction free when not in use. The tapering double helix sheave is designed to govern forward momentum in order to reduce potential injury that may occur from collision. The stiff tethers deter horsing around; they have a soft rubber sleeve, to soften impact and  ‘not scratch’.  The sling is neoprene; the paver surface is a soft surround that will serve to reduce injury if someone falls. 

LARIAT BURIAL GROUNDS SITE: Funeral parties reserve the site; they conduct the ceremony; and the cremated remains are poured into a deep well. These grounds are conceived as a place for containment, a place that relieves the compromising effect of pedestrian mentality.  Individuals can embrace the sentiment and realize collective inner consideration for attendees. The pattern of the pale work and the well cover serve as a ‘tangle transition’ between the ground and the sky.

            The yard is raised above eye level of the streetscape. The edge has a stone retaining wall with wrought iron fence slanting inward; the pale work is interlocking round bars; the entrance is only wide enough for two; a privacy wall restricts the view of the interior until one reaches the top of the ramp; the benches may be arranged as needed; the circumference of the Well will allow 40 people to be in the immediate circle; the Roundel is a low dome shape with swirl pattern that reverses direction from the center to the outer edge. 

MANHATTAN ISLAND SCULPTURE PARK is a prosed island built as a sculpture park that is 1/20th scale of Manhattan. It is a flat expanse of pavers; all the streets are walkways that follow the ‘one way’ direction as it is set up.  The entrances are prepared where the tunnels and bridges exist. All the numbers, street names and boundary lines for each property are inlaid among the stone pavers so that any occupant can find their building. The landlord of each corresponding property is invited to arrange for a work of art to be created that will be on exhibit at their lot in the sculpture park. 

MEMORIAL STARS SCULPTURE is a ready home for a spirit to reside.

The ‘star’ that one perceives is a negative space; a 3-diminsional silhouette defined by the forged armature. Is this the way a person’s spirit is in life?

Faces: Times Square 1996 by Monica Banks, artist

Built by James Garvey in affiliation with Koenig Ironworks, Inc. 

Forged steel, length 260’ X 5’ high. 

Faces: Times Square  is a permanent public art work sponsored by the Business Improvement District of Times Square, and it brings a large scale sculptural iron fence to a key site passed by one and a half million people each day.  The whimsical caricatured faces conceived by  New York artist Monica Banks are symbolic of the universality of Times Square as the “crossroads of the world”.   James Garvey’s simultaneously controlled and free-spirited realization of the design maintains its light heartedness and humor.  He comments, “I was pleased about the opportunity to demonstrate an ‘artisan aesthetic’  in a contemporary setting. The technical experience I developed at the Statue of Liberty  and the interest in public art which was awakened at that project, gave me the confidence to realize this work.  I personally formed all the faces in a freehand fashion using the forge and a hydraulic press.  It was  also challenging to undergo the consensus imparted to the project by  regulatory compliance.  The Fence  holds its own without lights flashing, moving images, or sub conscious associations to attract peoples attention.” 

At the opening of Faces: Times Square, the artist of the work, Monica Banks accompanied by her brother , 1996.

Once the bars were replaced, I spent the final four months of the project caulking the inside.  Much of the time I was alone.  I believe this time was a process for me in which seeds were being planted.. What sort of meaning does it have for the community?... The monument is capable of imparting communal sentiment. What is the nature of the vision that created this work?... 

Forged from 3' round bar, the signature is 5' long; it is suspended from ceiling in lobby of Ogilvy World Headquarters on 11th Ave in Manhattan. Project manager Michelle Mandeville, Architect, Cynthia Lindberg

The view from inside the structure.

St. Michaels Columbarium Dome

Design by Steven Byrns, Built by James Garvey, 1988

St. Michaels Columbarium Dome,  designed by Steven Byrns;

 Located at 99th and Amsterdam Ave. 

Forged steel frame, forged and gold plated steel cross,

Forged and polished brass: repusse’ border, collars and knots; 9’ diameter.

 Artisan expertise working to transform the piece so the view from inside is like a night time sky  with twinkling gold stars. 

We were three teams of two; we replicated 1800 armature bars in the shop at base of the statue; more than twelve were inside pulling old bars and riveting the new ones in with new saddles. The scaffold was for one fellow, Toco, he was outside drilling in accordance with existing holes and backing up all the rivets.

Approved by Landmarks Preservation Commission, 1992. Historical Iron Fence in which the cast iron was replaced with forged components.   This was a World Monuments Fund project to restore the 1870 Fence at this National Historic Landmark. 

Forged steel tube segments with mica sheet wings, height 8’

This sculptural bed was commissioned for a lover of crafts for her private residence in Westport, Connecticut.   This lady was delighted at the proposed theme: a moment of courtship between these ancient creatures is magnified and captured so it can act as a reminder. Of the creatures that are to be represented, this candidate is an ancient who has eluded refinement. Their presence is serious, yet they do not threaten or annoy.  Could the dragonfly become a friend? Its mate alone is it’s friend, not any other kind.   It seems that whatever these creatures did in a prehistoric context was immensely critical.  And, that contribution has given them guaranteed existence on into eternity. 

Forged Steel height 67 inches sanded finish

Forged steel

Ceramics by Annie Schliffer at Rochester Folk art Guild

Approximately, 1982

Forged Steel, 2” twisted square bar, height 60” 

They are developed for the apse of the meeting hall at the Rochester Folk Art Guild in Middlesex, New York, a school for the study of the movements and dances of George Gurdjief. An ancient character is portrayed with a contemporary flare, the capacity to become animated and step lightly within the space.   

Forged steel

Macrame' black nylon cord seat cover by Francis Garvey, Rochester Folk Art Guild

Forged steel

Ceramic slabs by Scott Goewey, Rochester Folk Art Guild Pottery

Forged Steel

Forged Steel

Ceramics by Scott Goewey, Rochester Folk Art Guild Pottery

Forged steel with SS fabric over dense neoprene  foam cushion

Forged steel

Hand Blown Glass by William Glasner and Peter Secrest, Rochester Folk Art Guild Glass Shop

Forged steel

Hand Blown Glass by William Glasner and Peter Secrest, Rochester Folk Art Guild Glass Shop

Forged steel painted with urethane automotive finish

Forged steel

Note, the steel plate back radiates infra red heat out to the room.

Forged and sanded steel

Forged Steel

Forged and sanded steel

Forged and fabricated steel

Hand blown glass by Daniel Singer, Rochester Folk Art Guild Glass Shop

Repouse' and forged steel

Knitted speaker covers by Elizabeth Garvey, Rochester Folk Art Guild Sewing Department

Ceramics by Annie Schliffer, rochester Folk Art Guld, 1982

Lariat Glasses are developed with the JG Bend.  The frame is rigid; they are made with forged titanium with snap in lenses; and, they  only fit the wearer. Prescription acrylic lenses are cut by Miller Optical on Lexington Ave.They are extra thick with a bull nose edge to impart durability. The titanium is a friendly material for contact with the skin, there are no 'pads' on the bridge of the nose. It has the 'Forge Patina' finish for titanium; The matt surface has mottled iridescent hues.

Lariat Glasses are developed with the JG Bend.  The frame is rigid; they are made with forged titanium with snap in lenses; and, they  only fit the wearer. Prescription acrylic lenses are cut by Miller Optical on Lexington Ave.They are extra thick with a bull nose edge to impart durability. The titanium is a friendly material for contact with the skin, there are no 'pads' on the bridge of the nose. It has the 'Forge Patina' finish for titanium; The matt surface has mottled iridescent hues.

Forged 4140 steel

This ring is Okay to be worn when the feeling of Pride is induced.

This ring is Okay to be worn when the feeling of Pride is induced.

Built presentation racks for swords and fireplace tools with 'five quarter' yellow pine and forged steel. 

Stainless Steel

Forged Steel, silver plated, length 5 1/2”

Three concepts: no fashion label because there is no handle to denote the style. The conventional protocol is simplified by introducing dual purpose utensils. And, the center of gravity has been positioned at the palm, it has a pronounced affect upon the diner’s poise, somewhat like an infant with a short spoon delighting in the consumption of a delicious pudding.  The affect is one of containment, free from self-conscious consideration.  The etiquette with these utensils could be described as primitive, an unencumbered movement from within.

forged from one rod

Forged steel, repouse' brass, mapel

This hinge is one of two for a double gate; the panels are 750 lbs each. The pin is 3' round Stainless Steel. Gravity is always draining the moisture and condensation out of the bearing surface. The body is milled from 7' round; it has the swing limits designed into the hinge body; this enables an astragal that is free from any stops that tend to pinch the fingers.   It also enable the threshold surface to remain free from holes and bolts that drag a groove in the tile. The backbone of this hinge system is a plate, 60" X 24" X 1.25" thick. This plate that is embedded three inches below the threshold surface.   Note, the gate panels for the gate are 750 lbs each.

.  

Forged sphere, 5" diameter with  Clevos fasteners

the Hooks snap onto the unit.

The Gate Hinge has a two foot diameter ring of forged 3" round bar that pivots on a 'bump' made from 5/8" thick plate. Fire Engins need to be able to enter without delay.  The design can withstand severe traffic conditions of snowplowing.  If the gate is toppled it can be repositioned and continue to function without maintenance. 

1979 for the Japanese Farm House iat Rochester Folk Art Guild that was Built by Sterling Klink. 

100 square foot solar kiln designed to fire pottery

Hinge Pin is 3 inch stainless steel with a thrust bearing on top; The swinging panel for this hinge weighs 800 lbs. The Hinge is mounted on a base plate that is embedded in the threshold.

Three wheels are make with hubless hoops the rotte on the frame member.  This vehicle has only 5 components. 

This illustration may have been used to train novices who would never learn to read; it may be showing an important posture that the master smith uses for this trade.” I took the stance, studied the alignment and raised the hammer to the position in the picture, directly over the forging. I lift it high above my head, It does not want to go in an arc, it has to come straight down, close to my frame, right in front of my face, I raise it straight up, It comes straight down; It follows gravity.

Cut quarter sphere shells; Anchor the base step and weld the spiral steps as needed;  block the fronts and pour cement inside. 

Determine the correct height; cut 1 inch plate to build the bridge; weld and prepare chain hold down.