Graduated : The Atlanta College of Art - 1993 BFA Sculpture/Drawing
Welding, Bronze and Aluminum Casting, Plaster, Stone Carving, Drawing
Drafting. Played music in Riboflavin and Monkey Drive
1994-1998 Established Studio Z Unlimited in The John Wesley Dobbs lofts - Atlanta Ga. Designed and built high-end custom metalwork including furniture, lighting, architectural accents and fireplace installations working with all types of metals and materials. Clients included designer Jill Vantosh, Sol nightclub, Guillotine, restaurants, designers, architects, store and private residences.
1997 - During first trip to New York was offered a solo show of furniture in SOHO at what was then called the Bmodern Furniture Gallery on Wooster Street. My furniture begins to sell. Constant back and forth traveling between New York and Atlanta ultimately lands me in New York.
1998 - 2000 Moved to New York. Established and renamed studio BehrMetals in the Meatpacking District Designed and built custom metalwork including furniture, lighting and architectural accents. Employed a small shop consisting of three to four people at a time. Clients included Tru Partners, Timothy White Photography, Modeworks, Jeff Mase, restaurants, designers, architects, stores and private residences.
2001 - 2003 Studio is moved to Bed-Stuy Do or Die in Brooklyn after losing lease of studio to an Art Gallery on 14th Street. Took a five week snowboarding adventure to Whistler-Blackcomb. Watched in disbelief and ultimate sadness from the roof of my studio as planes crashed into the World Trade Center. Business dries up. BehrMetals is downsized and phased out. Started the indie rock band 1/2Astronaut with Jesse Cregar and Jeff White. Recorded a demo at the Manhattan Center studios with Dax Anderson.
2003 - 2004 – Freelance Metalwork and consulting.
Project managed and fabricated interesting lighting restoration projects such as the gas conversion of the Dakota Building and others. Resolved production issues with casting, fabrication and wiring issues for various companies. Produced shop drawings for jobs ranging from storefronts to furniture. Continued to design and build furniture. 1/2Astronaut continues to play around New York and prepares to record second CD. Learned recording and editing in ProTools for music production.
2004 - 2005 - Working with Aurora Lampworks combined BehrMetals shop and tools with The Aurora facility. Set up metal fabrication and machining abilities that previously were outsourced. Increased productivity and profits. Hired additional artisans, fabricators and machinists as a result.
Projects included. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Brick Presbyterian Church, Highline Restaurant and others. 1/2Astronaut records second CD with Dan Long at Headgear Studios. Mixes are completed at the Manhattan Center in the Log Cabin. Jesse Cregar’s wife Sarah Emerson has a beautiful little girl and move to Florida. Jeff White parts to focus on other interests. 1/2Astronaut is disbanded.
2005 - 2006 - Moved to Williamsburg and spent three months writing and recording demos for new music projects. Accept Project Engineer position at MG and Company building high end restaurants. Participated in a fast paced environment, building and opening multi-million dollar restaurants including Rosa Mexicano, Craft Steak, Trestle on Tenth and others. Worked with notable architects including David Rockwell and assisted with the construction of Bobby Flay’s Apartment.
A new indiepop band Hot Iron Swallows is formed after demo completion. Records and mixes new CD with Dan Long at Headgear Studios. Thousand Million Records is established and registered with the Clerk’s Office of Kings County to publish and release music.
2006-2007 - Rejoined Aurora Lampworks as Senior Project Manager. Streamlined inter-office organization. established operational systems , submittal tracking protocols and accountability. Managed a team of assistant project managers, office personnel, machinists, fabricators and wiring technicians. Estimated and managed projects from $5,000 to $250,000. Estimated the lighting restoration for the Thurgood Marshall building. Hopes the winning bidder doesn’t lose too much money. Projects include; Empire Hotel, MGM Design Group, Diablo Cantina, Las Vegas, 50 Columbus Tower, Chopard and others. Participats in UL University Seminar for UL Standard 1598. Indiepop band Hot Iron Swallows undergoes personnel changes. Matt Webber from Falling Skyward and Mike Ushinki, drummer of Barbaro, Paul Michel and Abigail Warchild sign on. Additional swampmetal music project is started with drummer Shashi.
2008 – Current – Focus ahead on design, commissioned projects, outsourcing, music and education.
