Our story
The institute of fire
In metalwork, nothing is irreconcilable. You can make mistakes, and you can find solutions. If you mis-shape something, simply re-heat it and reshape it. If you cut something too short, just weld it back together and try again. This forgiveness permits change that is required to create something beautiful.
It is about changing the shape of things; it is about transformation.
During times of difficulty that we all experience, we still have the ability to make choices. These choices can go either way: we can make destructive choices or we can make creative choices.
insPYRE will provide the tools, through metalwork, to help you make creative choices that produce beautiful outcomes.
We will take steel and other scrap metals that have been left behind, abused and neglected, and we will transform them into beautiful works. The catharsis that occurs during the processes we teach will truly change the shape of things.
Our students will consist of individuals in need: young adults who are ageing out of foster care programs. Individuals seeking recovery from alcoholism and addiction. Veterans adjusting to challenges upon their return to civilian life. Convicts seeking a better way of life.
Our students will not only learn how to make creative choices that produce beautiful objects, they will learn real life skills of welding, forging and other metalworking processes that will enable them to find jobs in various industries that are desperately in need of skilled workers.
As a student, you will learn to weld and fabricate trophies, sculpture, furniture, and other useful household products such as fire screens and fire tools. These products will be shown in a gallery and online, and made available for purchase to support our mission.
Students will collaborate on large scale sculpture projects made available to corporate clients, municipalities and individual collectors. These sales will help to offset the cost of the classes.
Additionally, metalworking classes will be offered to the general public for a fee. These funds will be used to cover the fees for individuals in need.
The primary objective of this school is to provide an opportunity for our students to “begin with a win” as you enter into the next chapter of your respective lives.
Welding in the U.S.
Welding is a skill that opens doors for people who master it. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 81% of manufacturers can’t find enough welders to meet demand.
The American Welding Society says in 2024 the welding shortage will reach a deficit of 300,000 workers. Older welders are reaching retirement age and younger welders aren’t replacing them fast enough. The average age of a welder is 55, and fewer than 20% are under the age of 35.
The U.S. Dept. of Labor reported the average wage for a welder in 2020 was $44,190/year and $21.25/hour. The N.A.M. also says that 83% of welders are offered medical benefits.
insPYRE does not offer apprenticeships and it is not a trade school. It is a nonprofit organization that helps people unlock their potential through their own creativity in metalworking.
Potential students should be aware that developing and applying their welding skills will often be uncomfortable but it does come with great monetary rewards, job flexibility and earned respect.
Our directors
Joe Hall
Joe Hall is a Master Welder who is an experienced metal artist and holds Journeyman Cards from both the United States Department of Labor and the United Auto Workers.
Joe loves engaging blossoming creators and tradespeople through volunteerism and community outreach. He believes working with metal is empowering and validating for those who put the time and effort into mastering the craft.
Joe leads on the curriculum for insPYRE, and is generally the main point of contact for students.
Get in touch with Joe: joe@inspyre.us.
Preston Farabow
Preston Farabow has called Tennessee home for nearly 30 years. Preston began preparing for a career in art at the School of Design at North Carolina State University before earning his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Preston bends metal for a living. He is a professional artist who also owns and operates Aespyre Metals at Ironwood Studios, a gallery and working studio in Knoxville, Tennessee. Preston enjoys making art that can be appreciated by people from all walks of life, and he produces commissioned works for a diverse range of clients, including the State of Tennessee, The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Tribe, Red Bull, and numerous private collections.
Preston’s work is guided by his passion to make beautiful pieces out of materials that would normally be discarded. He believes that art serves not as an exclusive language for the elite but, rather, as a universal language that encourages further dialogue. It is his intention as an artist to encourage the creative instinct that we are all born with, and for that reason, Preston leads on creative welding for insPYRE.
Get in touch with Preston: preston@inspyre.us.
Mary Thom Adams
Mary Thom Adams has more than 35 years of senior experience as both staff and consultant working in schools, colleges and nonprofits in Tennessee. Beginning her career in fundraising, she grew operational experience and as time went on she expanded her knowledge to include most aspects of non-profit management. She has worked with many kinds of nonprofits from the arts to social justice, always with the understanding that well-run and well-funded organisations serve communities in ways that businesses and government cannot.
Mary Thom believes that the fabric of local communities are made stronger when the non-profit sector thrives, and brings a lifetime of experience in generosity to insPYRE. Mary Thom leads on fundraising, major gift donation, and project management for insPYRE.
Get in touch with Mary Thom: marythom@inspyre.us.
Our board
- Scott Carpenter, President
- Larsen Jay, Vice President
- Adrienne Webster, Secretary/Treasurer
- Joe Hall
- Preston Farabow
- Mary Thom Adams
To get in touch with the leadership team at insPYRE, drop a line to hello@inspyre.us.
