The Sheet Metal Workers Local 88 training center in Las Vegas recently welcomed visitors from the International Training Institute’s former headquarters, and although this is a common occurrence, visitors like these were a welcome change. Two bronze sculptures and two pieces of antique equipment made their way to Las Vegas this summer, and they will stay on display in residence at the training center until 2014.
Bronze sculpture “Skillful Hands” is a nod to the architectural sheet metal workers while the second piece depicts a welder hard at work. Both pieces are 6 feet tall and approximately 3 feet wide. The artist, A. Joseph Kinkel, is known for his sculptures of the labor trades. His most famous sheet metal piece, “Generations,” portrays two older generations of workers handing snips to a new apprentice.
The antiques, which also came from a display at ITI headquarters, include a wooden hand brake from 1893 and a stomp shearer.
With 25 to 30 classes of journeymen traveling to the training center annually, Local 88 was a place where many sheet metal workers could see a piece of sheet metal history.
“We’re honored to have them here,” said Dan Rose, training director for Local 88. “It’s a great enhancement to our facility.”
The mini-exhibit is set to travel to its next destination in 2014, and training centers interested in hosting the pieces can email Mike Harris at mharris@sheetmetal-iti.org.
