At Kent State University in the late 1950s, grad student Don Drumm dreamed of a future as a full-time working metal sculptor and gallery owner. His friends said it was farfetched, since artists usually had to work other jobs to make a living. But with his talent and the invaluable business sense of fabric artist/wife Lisa, the dream came true in 1971 – a half-century ago!
It’s an amazing story how a one-room shop on a quiet Akron side street grew into a two-building, nationally renowned gallery of contemporary crafts representing over 500 North American artists. Come celebrate with us October 2nd-30th! All month we’re featuring a retrospective of Don’s work, new never-available-before prints of Don’s drawings, specially designed canvas tote bags, a new gallery history book loaded with old pictures and two Saturdays of Jack Valentine’s Raku & Brew classes.
Don was a pioneer in the use of aluminum as an artistic medium.
PRIV-DRU-018
NOT FOR SALE 10"H x 9.25"W x 12.5"D Road Runner, 1958 One of Lisa’s treasures, this welded steel piece was created in the early days before Don began working in aluminum and pewter. It is symbolic of many early works and displays his mastery of manipulating metals.
PRIV-DRU-085
NOT FOR SALE 8.75"H x 15.75"W x 2"D Don's First Aluminum Cast, 1958 This was the first venture into casting aluminum into sand molds. Previously most metal sculpture was created by the “lost wax process,” which involves creating a model in wax, encasing it in mold material, burning out the wax and then casting the metal into the cavity. With this piece, a mold of sand was created into which the image was carved and then metal was poured into the cavity. Over the years this method has evolved for use in creating sculpture and functional items. The long history of Don working in aluminum followed.
PRIV-DRU-063
NOT FOR SALE 14"H x 10.5"W x 3"D Don's First Horse, 1960s One of a kind copper and bronze horse. Don would often create a piece in copper. That original could then be used as the master to cast the piece in aluminum. Don then altered and manipulated those castings to create many different horse castings. Many are still available today.
Many early sculptural pieces were formed and created in copper and then surfaced with bronze.
PRIV-DRU-040
NOT FOR SALE 15.5"H x 9"W x 9"D Copper and bronze sculpture figure, 1958-1959
PRIV-DRU-042
NOT FOR SALE 14.75" x 9"W x 4"D Abstract study in copper and bronze, 1958-1959
PRIV-DRU-044
NOT FOR SALE 16.75"H x 8"W x 7"D Copper and bronze, 1958-1959 This is one of the masks Don created for the Akron Art Museum as a gift for major fundraisers.
Full-mold casting is a combo of sand & lost-foam casting. The model is burned out in the sand mold.
DD-ONE-7024
$2,500 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 15.75"H x 13"W x 8"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1965-70
DD-ONE-8025
$710 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 8.25"H x 4.75"W x 2.5"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1978-1985
DD-ONE-8034
$1,200 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 8.25"H x 7"W x 5.25"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1978-1985
DD-ONE-8043
$624 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 5.5"H x 3.5"W x 2.5"D One of a kind aluminum, 1978-1985
DD-ONE-8056
$1,075 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 10.75”H x 7.5”W x 3.25”D One of a kind aluminum, 1978-1985
DD-ONE-8200
$850 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 9”H x 12”W x 1”D One of a kind abstract aluminum wall-hanging, 1978-1985
DD-ONE-8254
$850 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 12”H x 10”W x .75”D One of a kind abstract aluminum wall-hanging, 1978-1985
DD-ONE-8065
$3,800 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 18.5"H x 12.5"W x 5.75"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1990
DD-ONE-8068
$7,000 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 17.5"H x 25.25"W x 4"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1990
DD-ONE-8069
$3,800 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 12.75"H x 13.25"W x 2.75"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1990
DD-ONE-8071
$4,500 (call the Gallery to Purchase) 25.75"H x 11"W x 8"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1998
DD-ONE-8072
$6,500 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 16.75"H x 21.5"W x 3"D One of a kind abstract aluminum sculpture, 1990
Don created a number of large figurative sculptures, often making social statements.
PRIV-DRU-023
NOT FOR SALE 32"H x 14"W x 7.5"D One of a kind aluminum, 1960s
PRIV-DRU-024
NOT FOR SALE 32"H x 14"W x 7.5"D One of a kind aluminum, 1960s
During the great fiber craze, Don and Lisa worked together to create combined sculptural pieces.
LD-ONE-01
NOT FOR SALE 38"H x 12.5"W x 4"D One of a kind wall hanging macrame combination of Don’s aluminum and Lisa’s fiber art.
PRIV-DRU-036
$7,000 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 71"H x 13"W x 7"D One of a Kind free hanging macrame combination of Don’s aluminum and Lisa’s fiber art.
PRIV-DRU-056
NOT FOR SALE 16”H x 14”W x 10”D Emperor Frans Joseph’s urn, 1970s This is a fun take on the extensive line of aluminum cookware that Don has created. This piece satirizes the very elaborate silver serving pieces of the past.
PRIV-DRU-066
NOT FOR SALE 18.25”H x 12.75”W x 4.75”D Sea Horse, 1970s This one of a kind aluminum piece showcases Don’s sense of humor. He created this “sea horse” as a gift for Lisa.
Don made numerous toys for his three daughters, Elisa, Tamula, and Leandra. These are just a few.
PRIV-DRU-1000
NOT FOR SALE 4"H x 3.75"W x 3.25"D 4"H x 4"W x 5.5"D Aluminum, 1960s Toy lions (2 piece set).
PRIV-DRU-1002
NOT FOR SALE 7.25"H x 11.5"W x 2.75"D Aluminum, 1960s Rocking horse toy.
PRIV DRU-1004
NOT FOR SALE 2.25"H x 3.5"W x 1.75"D 2.5"H x 3.5"W x 1.5"D 2.25"H x 3.75"W x 1.5"D Aluminum, 1960s Abstract toy animal set (3 piece set).
PRIV-DRU-1005
NOT FOR SALE 2.25"H x 3.25"W x 3"D Aluminum, 1960s Toy elephant.
PRIV-DRU-1006
NOT FOR SALE 8.5"H x 8"W x 6"D Aluminum, 1960s Troll/big nose man.
Below are selected pieces from Don and Lisa’s private collection.
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NOT FOR SALE 53”H x 15”W x 14”D Tall aluminum lantern, 1960s This tall lantern has stood in the Drumm’s foyer for many years. It uses various forms seen in pieces Don has created.
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NOT FOR SALE 51”H x 21.75”W x 17”D One of a kind aluminum, 1960s This is an early example of Don’s sculpture work that has stood by the Drumm fireplace for many years.
PRIV-DRU-001
NOT FOR SALE 24.5”H x 17”W x 13”D One of a Kind aluminum, 1960s Large abstract sculpture on a base.
PRIV-DRU-081 & PRIV-DRU-082
NOT FOR SALE 15.75”H x 10”W x 1.5”D 16.5”H x 10.25”W x 1.5”D Aluminum Masks, 1985 The Akron Art Museum used to hold a masked ball every year as a fundraiser. It was always a grand affair with the creativity of the Akron art community on display. In 1985, Don and Lisa attended the ball with Landon and Cynthia Knight, and Don created four of these masks as a costume. The two masks pictured were Don & Lisa’s.
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NOT FOR SALE 11/4/4 Bronze goblet, 1958-1960 One of Don’s many experiments. This goblet was created in a traditional lost wax casting technique, which is not a normal casting method Don used.
PRIV-DRU-1003
NOT FOR SALE 8.25”H x 4.5”W x 4”D 9”H x 4”W x 4.5”D Candlestick pair bronze & copper, 1958-1960
DD-ONE-9027
NOT FOR SALE 14”H x 14.5”W x 4.5”D One of a kind movable winged pewter bird, 2020 A gift Don created in pewter for Lisa’s birthday. The wings move into different positions, making it a unique piece.
DD-ONE-8255
$11,200 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 58”H x 23”W x 4”D Aluminum back with pewter tiles, 1990s Don created over 400 tiles, initially based on the early Christian use of pictographs to communicate with those who could not read and write. These tiles led to the creation of memorials for several friends who had passed away. Eventually, he created more designs, including abstracts, sea shells, natural objects, quotes, etc. The tiles were then incorporated into a large variety of pieces both large and small.
DD-ONE-8256
$9,400 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 50”H x 32”W x 3.5”D Large pewter tile mirror, late 1990s One of hundreds of art works Don created using individual pewter tiles.
DD-ONE-9001
$575 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 15”H x 8.5”H x 9”D (Base: 5.5” x 6.25”) Pewter dancing angels on aluminum base, 1990s
DD-TOT-190
$1,000 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 21”H x 15”W x10”D Abstract pewter totem, 2010s
DD-TOT-013
$350 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 13”H x 7.75”W x 4”D Abstract pewter totem, 2010s
DD-TOT-108
$767 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 24”H x 14”W x 6”D Abstract pewter totem, 2013
SS291
$199 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 18”H x 6.75”W x 6”D Circus stilt man, 1990s
SS293
$187 8”H x 8.75” W x 2.75”D Circus bicyclist with wings, 1990s
A collection of Don’s work is kept at Drumm West, one of several buildings on the Drumm campus.
DD-ONE-8010
$1,600 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 16.5”H x 14”W x 6”D Acrobats & horse aluminum, 1980s This was one piece from a series Don created using horses and figures in various ways. Many of the pieces were centered around a circus theme with acrobats.
DD-ONE-8132
$19,000 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 68”H x 29”W x 23”D Abstract aluminum sculpture with figures, 1985
DD-ONE-8203
$775 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 20.5”H x 9”W x 3”D Aluminum circus acrobats, 1980s
DD-ONE-8205
$950 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 14”H x 17”W x 10”D Three winged figures, 1980s
DD-ONE-8218
$950 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 12.75”H x 11”W x 4”D Circus entertainer riding horse, 1980s
PRIV-DRU-1008
NOT FOR SALE 16.5"H x 3"W x 3"D Aluminum candle holder set, 1958-60 This is a piece from a collection Don created while working with industrial designers Smith, Schere and McDermott. They were later marketed through Raymor, a national marketing firm.
PRIV-DRU-1009
NOT FOR SALE 13"H X 6.5"W X 2"D Aluminum abstract wall-hanging, 1970s
PRIV-DRU-026
$4,000 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 33”H x 28”W x 12”D Praying mantis aluminum, 1970s A limited edition piece that required smaller castings that were welded together to create the larger piece. The praying mantis is one in a series of oversized insects created by Don.
The following mirrors are also housed in Drumm West.
PRIV-DRU-070
$10,500 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 41.5”H x 41.5”W x 1”D One of a kind abstract aluminum mirror, 1965-70 Created using sand casting technique.
PRIV-DRU-074
$2,500 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 25.5"H x 30"W x 1”D One of a kind aluminum mirror, 1980s Don liked to combine various materials while working. Here he adds color to the aluminum mirror by adding anodized aluminum panels.
DD-ONE-7009
$2,000 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 22”H x 21.5”W x 1”D Round abstract aluminum mirror, 1980s
DD-ONE-7011
$8,500 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 66.5”H x 18”W x 21”D Large propped aluminum mirror, 1965-1970
DD-ONE-7017
$4,500 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 31.5”H x 21”W x 4”D Round aluminum “tree top” mirror, 1965-1970
In his downtime, Don played around in jewelry. Some pieces were wearable and some were just small sculptural elements. The joke is that you can always tell who are the sculptors' wives. They are the ones bent down with the weight of their jewelry. During the 1960s, large belt buckles were in vogue. Here from Lisa's collection is a grouping that shows the many forms that Don's buckles took. At the extreme end is the "bikers belt buckle" that covered the whole mid section. Not many were sold, but it was a fun creation. Today, smaller, yet still beautiful buckles are available. Don also created beads formed in copper and then surfaced in bronze. Each a masterpiece, but en masse, very heavy.
Don continues to work in pewter and aluminum. He comes into his studio daily to create new pieces.
S-238CFG
$600 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 21.25"H x 22"W Aluminum, 2021 The sun face on this piece was originally designed in the 1990s. For the gallery’s 50th anniversary, we have paired them with Cricket Forge aluminum backs for a limited run.
S-264CFG
$600 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 21.25"H x 22"W Aluminum, 2021 The sun face on this piece was originally designed in the 1990s. For the gallery’s 50th anniversary, we have paired them with Cricket Forge aluminum backs for a limited run.
S-347CFJ
$850 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 32"H x 32"W Aluminum, 2021 The sun face on this piece was originally designed in the 1990s. For the gallery’s 50th anniversary, we have paired them with Cricket Forge aluminum backs for a limited run.
S-549
$625 (Call the Gallery to Purchase) 27" DIA Aluminum, 2021
DRAWINGS AND GALLERY BOOK In celebration of our 50th anniversary, the gallery has released never-before-seen prints of Don’s drawings from years past. We have also released The Story of Don Drumm Studios & Gallery, a book highlighting the studio. These prints and the gallery book can be ordered by calling the gallery.
