John Nelson '12
Art school helps you learn to work really hard because there is no final answer, so the work is unlimited.
Upon graduation, John Nelson started his own business, Nelson Metal Fabrication. He works full-time creating custom metalwork and architectural elements as well as fabricating signs. Collaborating with Woodworking & Furniture Design alum Jonas Eule '12, he launched a line of furniture. John Huckins '12 joined Nelson Metal Fabrication as a business partner in 2015 ; they have recently been fabricating pieces for the Paul Revere house in Boston.
His metal work has been exhibited at several restaurants in Greater Portland, including Slab and Elsmere BBQ. Nelson’s first commission after art school was to build the large conference room table at ThinkTank, a co-working space on Congress Street.
He says, "Art school really helps you become a really good problem solver, it helps you learn to work really hard because there is no final answer, so the work is unlimited."