Thank you for your interest in my work. I hammer,
raise, and chase by hand exceptional metal clothing, jewelry, serving pieces,
vessels, and sculptures using traditional metal smithing techniques.
The time consuming process of making each and every part by hand results
in metal couture that is strong, timeless, one of a kind, and beautiful.
Education & Mentors
I received my Bachelor of Fine arts Degree from Tufts
University. I also had the privilege of studying at the Boston Museum
of Fine Arts, The Studio School of New York, and Harvard University.
My parents, Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Caldwell, have been a tremendous source
of inspiration and influence in my pursuit of the arts. I learned
about hard work and perserverance from Charles Cajori, founder of The Studio
School of New York. Red Grooms, a well known contemporary New York
artist, has been very kind to me by allowing me to work on the largest
exhibit of his art, displayed at the Tennessee State Museum. The
late Terry Talley, a nationally known metal smith, taught me the traditional
methods that copper and silversmiths used centuries ago.
Exhibitions
I was a featured artist at The Tennessee State Museum's opening of the Buffalo Bill Show (September 2000) whereby I displayed two four foot long elk horn candelabra with sterling silver daffodils. I exhibited a six-foot copper sculpture at the 2001 Antiques and Garden show in Nashville, TN. I have been an exhibitor at the Ann Arbor Street Fair, numerous TACA shows (Tennessee Association of Craft Artists), the American Artisan Festival, and I won the Best of Show and Best Display at the Franklin Street Festival. I was commissioned to make antler and copper salad servers as a gift for Amy Grant and Vince Gill's Wedding. My latest commission is an architectural piece, a nine foot tall copper flower. I have a silver gingko ladle on permanent display at the Tennessee State Museum. My work has been featured in the Ann Arbor News, The Nashville Scene, and N.Focus, as well as Talk of the Town (local CBS Channel), and The Plus Side of Nashville (Cable Channel 50). In February 2001, Martha Stewart added one of Ben's ladles to her copper collection. The Tennessee Artist's Guild gave Ben the "Emerging Artist of the Year" Award. Nationally, my work has been featured in the June 2002 isssue of "Town & Country", the spring issue of "American Style", and I will be featured in the Sping 2003 "Southern Living" magazines. The HGTV program "Our Place" filmed and showed a segment on how I craft my work.
Ben Caldwell and his daughter Isabel