Second Calling
This Christian art studio uses industrial waterjet cutting technology to express faith and good humor through stunning works of art created in stone, metals and Lumicor® resin panels.
In a unique fusion of faith, artistry and manufacturing technology, Living Water Studios (Kent, WA) has found an enduring new purpose for its parent company’s industrial waterjet cutting machines. These high-tech machine tools, which normally are abuzz cutting titanium aircraft parts and other components at the Pegasus Northwest, Inc. waterjet shop in Kent, have found a second calling in sharing the manufacturer’s Christian faith through stunning works of art.
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Sequestered in a quiet loft not far from five pulsing Jet Edge waterjet cutting machines in the Pegasus Northwest shop, Living Water Studios is a surprising respite within an otherwise bustling manufacturing facility. The Christian art studio opened in late 2009, the inspiration of Pegasus Northwest president Tim Schober, who wanted to share his faith through artistic signs fashioned from a sister company’s unique architectural resin product, Lumicor®.
Lumicor is a translucent material made from R4 recycled resins that incorporates natural elements such as leaves, reeds, grass, silks, metal and glass as an inter layer. Living Water Studios manufactures its Lumicor signs by cutting small panels out of this material, which is pre-drilled on the waterjet to prevent delamination, then hand cut with a router. To minimize material waste, the studio uses pieces that have been salvaged from flawed panels, cutting around the flaws. A vinyl plotter is used to apply Christian sayings or humorous expressions to the surface in vinyl lettering, creating works of art that appeal to the eye as well as to the soul or funny bone.
Since launching its initial Lumicor products, Living Water’s creative team has expanded its product line under the artistic direction of designer Konstantin Voyevodin. The studio now offers “Statements in Stone” rock art that has been “chiseled” in stone by a 60,000 psi computer-controlled waterjet cutter, as well as metal artwork that breathes new life to remnant material from the waterjet shop that otherwise might have been scrapped.
Nothing is wasted in the waterjet shop, not even the worn-out work surface slats from the waterjets themselves, says Ron Palstring, general manager of the plant and the studio. The studio has cleverly repurposed its waterjet slats as rusted metal artwork, saving them from the scrap bin. “We have been doing a lot of experimenting here,” Palstring noted. “It’s amazing what you can come up with when you have five brains working on it. We have a lot of customers who like the look of rusted metal, so the slats were a perfect choice. We took a look at a few designs, made some samples, and everyone loved them!”
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Palstring credits waterjet technology for allowing the studio to have unlimited artistic possibilities. “The waterjet is limitless,” he said. “We can design Statements in Stone rock art that weighs 50 lb and is one ft long or we can get creative and use 500 lb rocks that are five ft long. The waterjet is the reason we are able to create unique products that you cannot find anywhere else.”
Living Water Studios artwork is available at its website, but the studio also sells its products through Christian gift shows around the country and plans to sell through retail stores and churches as it continues to grow. Its recycled waterjet slat artwork will be available soon on www.amazon.com.
Living Water Studios, 7404 South 262nd Street, Kent, WA 98032, 253-398-2122, www.livingwaterstudios.com.
Pegasus Northwest, Inc., 7404 South 262nd Street, Kent, WA 98032, 253-854-5451, Fax: 253-854-5608, www.pegasusnw.com.
Jet Edge, Inc., 12070 43rd Street NE, St. Michael, MN 55376-8427, 763-497-8726, www.jetedge.com.
