A little brass and copper make unique sculptures
Staff reporter
A person might say metal sculptor Tracy Hett is a recycler.
With brass and copper, the popular artist can weld a masterpiece.
He uses barbed wire, antiques, and family mementos in his art pieces.
He began his career in 1985, practicing his craft part-time. By 1990, the demand had increased sufficiently to allow him to operate his business full-time and Trace of Copper was born.
Trace of Copper is located at 1216 Commercial Road, in the Marion Business Park along U.S.-56.
Hett learned from one of the best — his grandfather, Ern Hett.
"I worked for my grandfather straight from high school," Hett explained. It came natural for him. "I tell people he gave me my college education."
Each piece that Hett sells is a piece of art — made individually. He braises the parts together with an oxygen settling welding torch. Sometimes he uses spray paint to give the piece a shiny look.
From wheat heads to train engines, Hett can make just about anything.
"I do a lot of custom work," Hett said. "All I need is a picture."
During his career, Hett has made more than 100,000 wheat heads.
His biggest sellers are wheat, windmills, and sunflowers.
His preferred medium is a western theme.
"Over the past few years, the wine racks have gained popularity," Hett said, pointing to a brass rack with greenery.
The smaller pieces take Hett about 30 minutes to complete. The Kansas state seal, his showpiece and the one that takes the most time to complete, takes about four hours.
"The first time I made the seal it took me 12 hours," Hett said.
He purchases antique items to use in his pieces from Bearly Makin' It, a Marion antique store.
"People will bring in mementos or specific items for me to build my work around," Hett explained. "I have an endless supply of barbed wire."
Hett also relies on income from trade and craft shows. He travels to 15 each year around the country.
He pulls a trailer, loaded with a variety and supply of his work.
"Most shows are one-day, Saturday shows," Hett said. His next show a few weeks from now will take him to South Dakota. That's the farthest from home he'll travel. The other shows this summer are in Oklahoma, Kansas City, and Kearney, Neb.
Even though the only piece that he's actually shipped out of the country was to Hawaii, he knows his work is all around the world.
"The foreign exchange students from the high school always come out and purchase something before they return home," Hett said.
Hett also has his products in the state travel centers.
"The smaller pieces do well because people are traveling and don't have room for the larger ones," Hett said.
Hett, his wife Geraldine, and daughter Allison, recently sold their Marion house. The couple are in the process of building a new house in Galva, which should be completed in September. They will continue to reside in their Marion house until the new one is finished.
Geraldine works at The Cedars in McPherson and the couple decided to move closer to her work.
Hett plans to commute to Marion and does not plan to change the operation of his business.
Trace of Copper products also are available at Marion Healthmart Pharmacy, and Odds 'n' Ends, Hillsboro. His store hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday.
Practice does make perfect, even when the start is a little rocky.
"The first wheat heads I made looked like they went through a hail storm," Hett said with a chuckle. "Mom told me to keep practicing."
