Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Amato.
Hi Chris, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In November 2017, after floating between two different office spaces for 4 years at my full-time job at Polk State College in Winter Haven, I finally moved into a dedicated office space in a dedicated area for my department. The office had two banks of fluorescent lights, containing 3 fluorescent tubes each. I knew that I didn’t want to sit under those stark bright lights all day and decided that I wanted to get a couple of cool desk lamps for a more toned-down atmosphere in which to work. I’ve always loved the industrial / steampunk style and knew exactly what I was looking for (it would be constructed from pipe and fittings with a valve handle that would turn it on and off), but I just couldn’t seem to find what I had pictured in my mind (and anything I saw with a valve incorporated had it only there for decorative purposes – it didn’t function). Finally, I decided that I was just going to have to make them myself.
I had never made a lamp before, but if there’s something I’m determined to do or figure out, I completely immerse myself in it and don’t stop until I’ve done it. I researched the process extensively, reading and watching a ton of videos, and thought “I can do this”. So, I went to my preferred home improvement store and started laying out pipe and fittings on the floor of the aisle. Once I had gathered all of the pieces for both designs, I went home to proceed with the build.
Next thing I know, I had the two lamps created, exactly how I had envisioned – complete with functional valve on/off switch! My wife and family thought they were cool and, having successfully completed my mission, I literally thought that was the end of it.
I set them up in my office and it was exactly the look I was hoping to achieve. Well, since we were in a new location, lots of colleagues were coming by to check out the new space and while there, they would peek in to see my office as well. Everyone would comment on the lamps – and especially loved how the valve handle turned them on and off. They would then ask where I got them and I told them that I made them. They would then say “you have to make me one”. The reception was incredible – it’s one thing for your family and close friends to show their support (that’s their job, right?!), but to hear it from others who don’t really know you on that same level (not to mention hearing it from complete strangers a bit later on) is just really wild!
In January 2018, Crow’s Nest Artisanal Wares was launched. Throughout January and February, I spent time building new wares and we got our official start with our first vendor booth location at Sister’s Junktiques Vintage Market on HWY 27 in Haines City. We also participated in our first vendor market at Grove Roots Brewing Co. in Winter Haven. That led to additional markets and events and a second vendor booth at an antique mall in Lakeland in August 2018. During this time (and still today), creativity I never knew I had inside of me, was pouring out and I couldn’t keep up with all of the ideas I was having for new and more complex ways to introduce functionality to my pieces – outlet boxes, voltage meters, fire alarm pull stations… whatever it was, it was going to be functional and not just there for decoration only! That is one of the things that people comment on most about my work – that it’s not just a lamp, it really is functional art. Each piece has a unique hand-engraved serial number and comes with a wax stamped Certificate of Authenticity – even our brand tags (the finishing touch on each piece) are all done by hand. . . details matter and people notice them and appreciate them.
In October 2019 Crow’s Nest Artisanal Wares Studio / Gallery / Mercantile opened its doors in Winter Haven and has afforded me the opportunity to create, display, house, and sell my work from a home base of operations. We are open on Saturdays 10 am-4 pm and by appointment during the week. We are still very active in local markets, art shows, and other events, so if you don’t make it to the Studio / Gallery / Mercantile, you’ll likely run into us “out and about”!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This venture has been just like life itself – there are things that go very smoothly and then, of course, there are always challenges. Some challenges are self-inflicted – for example, choosing such a heavy media to work with and having to load, unload, setup, pack-up, load and unload when participating in events. . . and transporting all of it to and from in an un-air-conditioned 1973 VW Bus during the summer! Those things can be dealt with though and aren’t real life-changers.
Obviously, the largest challenge we faced (along with everyone else in general and small business owners in particular) was having the entire world shut down in 2020 – just months after having opened the doors to the Studio / Gallery / Mercantile and taking on the additional financial responsibilities associated with doing so. That’s something you just can’t plan for and we recognize how fortunate we are to still be operating on the other side of it – something, unfortunately, far too many other small businesses cannot say.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create rustic-industrial functional art utilizing 1″ diameter black iron pipe and fittings. I incorporate valve handles as the on/off switch, outlet boxes with electrical outlets and USB charge ports, voltage meters, and fire alarm pull stations into many of my pieces – all of which are functional. The functionality and attention to detail is what I am most proud of and is what I feel sets me apart from others. I always hear people say “I saw something like this at some other place, but it wasn’t as cool as yours” or “I’ve seen this before, but yours is much better” or “The voltage meter actually works?!” or “You have the best / most unique booth here”. It’s nice to hear that what I’m doing is recognized as different from similar work out there and that people really do appreciate the functional aspect to my pieces.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is always being outside playing – whether it was playing with Tonka trucks in the yard, running around playing manhunt, playing football in the street, or logging countless miles on my bike, I was always outside playing! It really was a great time to grow up – well before technology became so prominent in our lives. We had an Atari 2600 and then later a ColecoVision and NES, but that was what we did when we couldn’t be outside or weren’t at the skating rink or arcade with our friends!
Contact Info:
- Website: crowsnestartisanalwares.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/crowsnestwares/
- Facebook: facebook.com/crowsnestwares
- Twitter: twitter.com/crowsnestwares
Image Credits
Crow’s Nest Artisanal Wares, LLC
