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By Pamela Dillon, Contributing Writer 4:36 PM Friday, February 26, 2010

Hamilton Dixon’s forging process may be similar to that of an old-world blacksmith, but his finished pieces are decidedly contemporary.

Many Dayton-area residents have seen his exquisite steel railing in the Rotunda of the Dayton Art Institute. His newest installation can be seen while sipping a hot latte in another very public place, Boston Stoker at the Dayton International Airport.

Dixon added a new dimension of fluidity and movement to this steel railing in the airport lobby that wraps itself around the seating area of the Boston Stoker cafe. The 30-foot handrail meanders up and down, stabilized by curving support bars and a growing garden of flowing curvilinear designs.

“We’re very pleased and proud of our new railing. Numerous customers have made comments like, ‘Who designed it?’ and ‘It’s gorgeous,’ ” said Shauna Mobley, general manager of Boston Stoker.

The metal sculptor begins his creative process with squared or round sticks of mild steel bar, placing them in a forge until they are red-hot. He manually removes the heated stick and hand-forges the steel into its intended shape with a hammer and anvil. Each and every element of this one-of-a-kind railing was hand-forged by Dixon.

Dixon is quick to credit Don Dean, owner of Boston Stoker Coffee, for the inspiration of this particular design. Dean is a great supporter of the local arts community.

“I appreciate the opportunity that Boston Stoker has given me to have my work seen by so many people arriving to and departing from the Dayton airport,” Dixon said.

He has been sculpting steel as an art form for 20 years. He began working with metal as a welder on an offshore oilrig in the 1980s. He attended Turley Forge School in Santa Fe, N.M., where he learned basic techniques in forging steel. In 1991, Dixon relocated with his family to the historic South Park neighborhood in Dayton.

Dixon has produced a wide range of public art, installed throughout the Miami Valley, as well as numerous private installations around Dayton and throughout the U.S.

To celebrate this most recent installation, Dixon has produced a line of limited edition commemorative bracelets, one of which is currently on display at the Airport Boston Stoker. It is part of a marketing display that includes brochures and a slide show of Dixon’s works.

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