Tin smithing shop honors memory of late Bill Metz, keeps craft alive

Two years after his death, Bill Metz’ legacy as Amana’s modern day tin smith is ensuring the craft is passed to new generations.

The Amana Arts Guild will host the grand opening of its Tin Smith Shop in West Amana Sunday, April 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. A dedication will be held at 1:30 p.m.

The shop is made possible by the donation of Metz’ tin smithing tools by his family. The Arts Guild converted its blacksmith shop, located between 703 and 705 7th Ave. in West Amana, into a functional tin smith’s shop. It will serve as a site to host classes and demonstrations using the same tools Metz worked with for years.

“Our mission is to keep the history alive,” said Arts Guild Director Erin Shoup. Tin smithing, like basket weaving, quilting and furniture making, was one of the many communal crafts that continue today. The survival of techniques and tools in the years after the Colonies left their communal lifestyle are due to both the Arts Guild’s support and members of the community dedicated to learning and maintaining the skills.

The tin smith shop project began about a year ago when Metz’ family donated the collection of tin-working tools that had filled the basement of his Middle Amana home to the Arts Guild. Metz, who was a founding member of the Guild, was a sheet metal worker at Quaker Oats, Cedar Rapids, who took up tin smithing as a hobby. He produced items ranging from cookie cutters and cake pans to household utensils and garden and agricultural tools using patterns and equipment from the Colonies’ communal era.

Receiving the machinery and tools and having people who know how to set them up and use them was a gold mine for the Arts Guild, noted Shoup. Through classes and demonstrations, they will be able to share the knowledge and guide the next generation of crafters.

“It’s really hard to find tin working equipment,” said Shoup. “Having access to Bill’s tools is a game changer for us.”

Angela Tjaden, West Amana, studied tin smithing with Metz and expressed her happiness his collection of well-maintained equipment has found a new home where it can be used to help others learn the craft. She noted she had looked for tin-working tools and not only was it hard to find them, the pieces she was able to locate weren’t nearly the quality of Metz’.

Tjaden will be one of several local instructors to teach classes in the coming months. Catherine Otto, Iowa City, another of Metz’ students, will also instruct. Class sizes will be small and focus initially on small projects.

“He (Bill) always made it look so easy,” Tjaden remembered. “But even the simplest pieces aren’t easy to make.”

The April 23 grand opening will also serve as the Amana Arts Guild’s annual membership drive. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact the Amana Arts Guild at info@amanaartsguild.com or (319) 622-3678.

Comments: Melinda.Wichmann@southeastiowaunion.com