Every year, the Sunflower Fine Art Craft Market features a wide variety of unique creations from people across the prairie provinces. This year was no exception, filling the Gallagher Centre with a wide range of booths.
One of those booths belonged to Michael Bayly with Bayly Art. The local artist makes custom metalwork, and had several examples of his craft on display to show the range of his abilities.
"I do custom metalwork for anybody and make anything... If it's metal, I will make it," Bayly says.
The start of his love of metalwork began in high school with the first welding class he attended, and he says as soon as he got his hands on a piece of metal he began to change it and see what he could turn it into.
Bayly's goal with his furniture is to create pieces that can become a permanent part of the home, pieces which will survive for generations.
"I realized how hard it is to buy real furniture. Everything nowadays is some version of particleboard or something you're buying that somebody learned to make the cheapest way possible. It has its place, but I try to go the opposite direction. All of my wood is solid and from a tree and I try to get everything Canadian and local as possible," he says.
"Everything I make will probably outlast all of us. It's all very heavy, and when you start to incorporate the pieces of wood that I do, they are going to age as well. They're going to be pieces that you're going to have for the next 20 or 30 years, they will be around to tell the stories you have."
Bayly emphasizes that he's open to all different styles, though his personal style is described as "modern gothic." The majority of his work is custom, and he says that it's good to be open to different styles in order to adapt to what customers like. One of the showcase pieces was a metal table with solid wood, and he says that the wood softens the hard lines of the metal and also shows how he can incorporate different materials.
"You have to be able to diversify if you want to appeal to anybody."
This year was Bayly's second year at Sunflower, and he says that last year he got a good amount of attention, so he hopes that this year has a similar positive result.
Those interested in learning more about Bayly's work or getting a piece of their own can call 306-641-6191 or visit baylyart.com.
