Meet Matt Mellon | Owner at Magic Metal Designs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Mellon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I love this question. It is a persistent theme in our day to day routine. The bottom line for us is that the task before us must without question get done and done right no matter what obstacles may try to intervene. Really perplexing problems tend to pop up before us and we put our heads together and we prevail.

This same approach applies to the bigger picture. There is no giving up. Never give up. Always, no matter what, prevail. Try. Be creative. Trust your friends. Be kind to yourself and others.

And we realize that success doesn’t happen in the moment – it happens before, when you prepare and set your future self up for it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
OK more shout outs here. Larry Neely, a decorated war hero and real life MacGyver, taught me how to weld and opened this whole career path. Thank you Larry! David Knudtson, a phenomenal local wood artist and cabinet maker (Knut Designs) taught me the ropes of the high end building world. Pete Carden is a great friend and builder from whom I’ve learned many great tricks. My Grandfather, Harry Jackson, instilled the love of craft in me early as a woodturner, furniture maker, and saw and knife maker. And my amazing wife Anitra, who showed me how to make dreams come true.

We see no limits. We naturally have to respect and impose limits to bring our work to fruition. But we like to assume in theory that the impossible is possible and work backwards from there. We are interdisciplinary artists. The rules and possibilities of one bleed to the others and enrich our art from the inside of our hearts. We do what we do with great passion and love.

We want everyone to know that we’re here for your unsolvable problems, for that piece of art (which could be a railing or gate) that you need to commemorate whatever it is that needs commemorating. We’ll figure it out with you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wow, great question! We’re most definately heading over to Lockeland Table. I like to park a couple blocks away and stroll up Woodland and check out the old houses. Next day we might have to hit Benji’s Bagels over in Charlotte Park for their insane bagels and spreads. We’d most likely be hungry from our hike at Radnor lake and head back east for a sandwich at East Side Bahn Mi. If we had fair weather and plenty of time we’d paddle out to Hole-in-the-Wall Island on Percy Priest and go cliff jumping. I’m not suggesting that anyone else do that but we might, depending on who it was that came into town. We’d be hungry again and not far from Donelson so we’d probably hit up MacNamara’s.

Final night dinner back in East Nashville at Lyra. The love and dedication they pack into that amazing menu thrills me every time and what a chill spot.

So mostly East Nashville I guess.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out my friend Pete Vann, who joined me in this business something over a year ago, though we’ve been friends and done projects together for over 25 years. A cool head, extraordinary artist, born leader, and talented teacher. When we tackle a problem together, it melts before our very eyes. I am well beyond excited to see where we can take this business moving forward together, and with our team, Luke and Mitch (hat tip to Ethan, a valued team member currently adventuring in Wyoming)

Website: https://magicmetaldesigns.com

Instagram: magic_metal_designs

Image Credits
Allison Gower, Matt Mellon,