Adorable little goblins with sharp, pointy teeth are revolutionizing garden accessories and lawn art one gnome at a time.
Creatures made of scrap metal, rusty screws and bolts greet the visitor to the Sugar Post metal shop, 80 W. Truman Ave. Metal grasshoppers hang from the wall, and a 6-foot skeleton, with ribs made of carefully lined wrenches, makes Fred Conlon's showroom complete.
Conlon, originally a potter, said he always had ideas of things he wanted to make with metal. His love for welding goes back to his college days, where he learned to weld on a whim for a job interview.
After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in communications, Conlon went another route, opening a pottery shop. Until about 11 years ago, pottery held Conlon's interest, but an ordinary trip to Smith and Edwards surplus store sparked a big idea.
Conlon saw a pile of old army helmets and remembered his grandfather's description of Pearl Harbor.
"War happens quickly, but peace happens slowly," Conlon said. The old, rusted, World War II helmets reminded him of turtle shells and the animal's slow crawl.
Conlon crafted a turtle, using the helmet as a shell and drill bits for the feet, and used it as decoration for his pottery shop. A regular customer asked how much Conlon wanted for the turtle.
"I sold it, and quickly made 10 more and sold all of them," Conlon recounted, remembering his surprise at their popularity. It is still the most popular item in his inventory.
"It sort of takes things full circle. Things that were used in combat are now peaceful. I'm making war things into whimsical garden accessories," Conlon said.
And with the turtle a success, Conlon's metal art became his professional focus.
Sugar Post's inventory grew to include ladybugs, which are army helmets painted red with welded spots and large, skinny nails for legs. What Conlon refers to as a transition pieces, the "Gnome Be Gone" and "Flamingo-away" take a stab at traditional yard-art fixtures. The classic lawn gnome and flamingo are used in a fusion with Conlon's creature creations.
The hauling away of gnomes and flamingoes is pretty literal in Conlon's mind.
"We want crappy stuff out of gardens and cool stuff in. You know, help control the gnome population," Conlon joked.
When the little "Gnome Be Gone" creatures aren't hauling off gnomes, Conlon has them surfing, flying on rockets and manning tanks.
"People have really creepy things in their gardens. I wanted to make stuff that wasn't just made in China," Conlon said.
Products range in price from $20 to more than $8,000. Conlon's creativity really shines through in the custom products he has produced. The intricate details and the natural rusting greatly add to the conceptual pieces Conlon brings to life.
"I think I have something for everyone," Conlon said.
Even projects that didn't turn out the way he planned have a home somewhere.
"What I consider a failure, others think it's the best thing I've ever made," Conlon said.
When asked what things inhabit his backyard, Conlon laughed and reassured that it was not full of rusted metal.
"There are prototypes, original ideas, a rocket ship, as well as a garden. It's not just a junk pile," Conlon said.
Aside from the art, Sugar Post is running a relatively small operation with a handful of employees. The shop also does ornamental iron and gate work, as well as structural railings.
"But the art has never died," Conlon said.
The metal artist is constantly thinking of new accessories for the yard and office.
One of the newest creations for the garden is the "Obama," a whimsical bomb sandwiched between the letters "O" and "A."
The desk caddy, made of assorted wrenches and a large bolt, holds a roll of tape and a stack of business cards.
"Welding stuff was an easier way to pay the bills," Conlon said, relating to his switch from the pottery business. He admits he hasn't worked with clay in about four years.
The pottery shop is still alive, but under the direction of Kevin Winn.
Sugar Post was located in a small garage, but is now at its roomy location (at least for now) on Truman Avenue. "I feel really spoiled here. When I used to work out of the garage, I would be standing in puddles on rainy days," Conlon remembered.
The growth of the company may be credited to Conlon's presence in the local arts scene and nationwide catalog companies that carry his stuff.
Conlon has been recognized for the artistic integrity of his metal works. The 2009 Utah Arts Festival awarded him the Award of Merit, and he won Best in Show at the Park City Kimball Arts Festival in 2007 and 2008.
"It's rare a recycled artist wins anything besides the heart of the people," Conlon joked.
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