Thank you for your interest in working with me.
Please review description and details below, and if still interested, fill out questions/form, and submit. I will then review and be in contact with you. If you don't hear from me after submitting your form, following up with an email is recmomended. My email inbox is quite busy and unfortunately messages can sometimes get lost or sent to junk accidentally.
What: Long term preferred, 3 month min., FT Metal Studio Assistant to an experienced metal craftsman. Become part of a team working in all aspects of this creative and fast paced business, mostly making proprietary serving wares and cabinet hardware commissions.
Tasks include: Prep/cutting/drilling/sanding/grinding/fine finishing/hammer forming/light forging/riveting/assembly/and more, as well as packing orders/inventory reviews/cleaning and maintaining shop/light computer work such as graphics/marketing/data entry. A focus for fine art metalwork to be a serious career goal, a very good technical ability and attention to exacting fine detail in a small batch production environment is all very important to mesh well with this opportunity and business. A background in fine jewelry and/or fine art blacksmithing, or similar, is preferred. Occasional help with Erica's house/property also will be needed but metal studio assistant is main task. This is to fill a current/long standing position. There may be another assistant working at the same time full or part time. Due to some of my physical limitations, this position does require much solo work or working with another assistant.
Who: A person that can demonstrate proficient jewelry or small metals experience, that shows technical ability for precision in measuring, attention to fine detail, organized and efficient, positive attitude, willing to learn and share, able to perform repetitive tasks, comfortable asking questions, flexible to share a variety of tasks, comfortable working alone or with another assistant.…and have some humor! 3 years professional experience required (on-the-job, not including school/education). Machining and TIG welding experience a big plus (at least 3 yrs on TIG). This is not an entry level position.
Where:. Waldoboro, Maine (Midcoast Maine, about an hour North of Portland).
Great little village that has within a mile of the house: a pub The Narrows, Perch cafe and bakery, brewery Odd Alewives, A wine bar with food pop-ups. two hardware stores and a lumber yard, pharmacy, post office, library, tidal river with launch, beautiful hikes, human scale good grocery chain, creamery, farm stands, and more. 10 minutes to Damariscotta, 30 minutes to Rockland and Camden and Rockport. 1 hour from Portalnd/airport, and 2 hours to Deer Isle/Haystack land and Acadia.
Lodging Provided if needed (Summer cottage pending): Lodging is shared with Erica in her 1854 Greek Revival house, with assistant(s) having a quiet private ‘wing’ of 2 furnished bedrooms and full bath, and sharing 1st floor main spaces with Erica, (kitchen/den), and includes linens, furniture, wifi, laundry, utilities, trash, snow plowing, and parking. We’ll be housemates, so shared cleaning and other usual courtesies including sharing the occasional amazing meal would be good. Know that I have a cat and dog on premises in shared spaces. Lodging is $1100/month for the whole wing. Two assistants can share this ‘wing’ although rent will be 700/ea).
When: Anytime.... (note that housing is not available in Summer at this time, unless you want to include building the small cottage I am planning as part of your work!).
Pay: $18 -28/hr depending on experience, with a review after the first week to possibly adjust. Periodic check-ins will continue to review. Full studio access in off hours. Health Insurance and paid vacation can be discussed after 6 months. Payments are on a biweekly payroll or as a subcontrator, and if housing is needed, rent will be taken out of pay prior to paycheck for tax free income for that portion. Which hours worked can be somewhat flexible, so you can balance life with work.
More about me/Erica: Erica has been working professionally as a metal craftsman since 1994, and then started her own business in 2001 doing custom metalwork commissions to architects and designers, such as railings, sculpture, furniture and hardware. She has worked with assistants in her studio since the beginning of her business, from one to four at a time, part time and full time. In 2016 she started a line of personal work, marketed under her name, in small metal serving utensils. She balances the studio work with private and guest instruction at colleges, and workshops at craft, furniture, and boat building schools including Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Penland, Haystack, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Woodenboat School. Her work has been noticed by publications such as Bon Appetit, Saveur, Metalsmith Magazine, Esquire, and the New York Times Magazine.
Erica’s website: www.ericamoody.com
Erica’s Instagram for more full spectrum view of business: @ericaemoody