Connections Forged in Steel
by Mary Reddy • Photos by Bijan MITCHELL
When Joey Guerra arrived on Whidbey Island seven years ago, he was not thinking of anvils, forges, or tongs. Family connections brought him to the island, and he soon found work as a carpenter at Hedgebrook, a renowned Whidbey Island writing retreat for women. Guerra also began to work for builder Matt Holtby on his tiny house, studio constructions, and remodels. Guerra eventually met Matt’s brother, Jeff Holtby of Arcane Metal Arts, who was considering closing up his business.
With Guerra’s enthusiasm for metal work, Jeff Holtby agreed to mentor him in the art and craft of the modern-day blacksmith. “I saw what he was doing and was interested,” said Guerra. In 2021, he began Northwest Metal Arts, renting Holtby’s workshop along with a plethora of impressive tools.
Off a winding gravel road and surrounded by trees, the exterior of the shop looks like any large farming or warehouse structure. The 3,000 square feet of studio space and a high ceiling allow ample room for the large blacksmith machines. An array of iron rods, tools, and finished and in-process projects hang from walls or are stacked on worktables. The forge sits front and center, glowing red around the edges of heat-resistant ceramic bricks. Its propane-fueled fire reaches temperatures up to 2,300 degrees. Heating the iron in the forge brings the steel to a clay-like, pliable state—a process more akin to glass blowing than welding.