Mark Pflieger — artisan and artist inspired by craft

CHILDHOOD

For Mark Pflieger, like many creative people, making things that express his imagination and emotions began almost as soon as he can remember. At seven, he was learning to weld in his father Alex’s shop at their home in rural Mount Hope, just outside of Hamilton, ON.

A farmer, ironworker and carpenter, Alex passed on his skills to Mark and his older brother, Kirk, who are both today skilled jacks of many trades who continue to make their livings with their hands.

Mark in his Caledonia, Ont. shop using a crescent wrench and pipe to bend a post for one of his wrought-iron projects

One of Mark’s current welded metal sculptures was inspired by a simple creation in two-by-fours just about when he was learning to weld.

WORKING LIFE

Starting his working life early as a tradesman, Mark was never very comfortable in a classroom – he spent a half-dozen years working as a welder and supervisor in the gritty, rough-and-tumble environment of Hamilton’s National Steel Car Company, helping turn out railway cars.

Deciding he needed more independence and a chance to use his varied skills, Mark began a company doing renovations, eventually focusing on high-end restoration work for historic homes in the Hamilton area, work he continues today.

TODAY

These days, Mark’s work as a contractor is largely painstaking custom work which is considered by many of his customers to be art in itself.

His work with sheet metal and eavestrough, carpentry and joinery and custom wrought-iron projects like fences and window enclosures is typically part of long-term projects for homeowners looking to preserve the architectural character of their heritage properties. This has led to long-term relationships that transcend business, and, as a result, Mark says,"my customers are my friends."

Musician Tom Wilson and Mark discuss one of Mark's first major sculpture creations, Isabella Shines, and the Indigenous-inspired style Tom has used in painting it.

A relationship with a long-time customer has become one of Mark's current art projects – a collaboration. Mark is a big music fan and a friend of many artists in the local musical community.

During years working on the Hamilton home of Tom Wilson — well known member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Junkhouse and other musical outfits — a friendship developed.

Tom, also a painter, author, and spoken word artist who has in recent years drawn inspiration from his Indigenous ancestry began work with Mark on a series of painted sculptures.

Mark creates the welded sculpture, which Tom then uses as a metal canvas for paintings using his Aboriginal-inspired visions. One of their joint creations was recently auctioned as a part of a fundraiser for the local Dundas Valley School of Art.

For the source of the personal inspiration for his art, Mark avoids pretension and gets straight to the point:

I laugh, I yell, I love, I cry, I feel.
Every piece of art is an emotional outlet!