Phil Fisher: Man of Steel

Producer: Karen Smyles

Phil Fisher, a journeyman pipe welder, has been creating steel sculptures for over twenty years. It began when his children saw some bells for sale and told him, “Dad, you can do better than that!” Even today, much of his work shows a sense of whimsy and child-like play, often using whatever steel is at hand as his raw material. Many of his bells and other sculptures, for example, are cut from oxygen bottles. Phil also creates works of elegant beauty, such as garden statues, gates, arbors, and indoor furniture.
Phil is one of many artists living in Arden, Delaware, a utopian community founded over a hundred years ago on the Single-Tax economic philosophy of Henry George. In 1995, Fisher came upon his home/studio which was then for sale, and just knew he had found the place he would set up shop, personally and professionally. On any given day you can find Fisher here firing up his tools to create one of his wonderful creations made from steel.
Friday Arts had the opportunity to spend two gorgeous days with Phil at his wildly entertaining place of business. It was topped off with an excursion around Arden to see the many works of his that grace the homes and gardens of friends and neighbors. The crew and I found it difficult to call this a work day!
In addition to being an artist, he is an avid art collector with an on-site gallery, which exhibits fascinating pieces of art by artists near and far. Fisher gives us a tour of the gallery and tells us about a few of his favorites.