GlasSchmiede

My name is Patrick Salvatore Rastelli and I was born in Vienna in 1997. After graduating from the Cooperative Middle School with a focus on natural sciences in Vienna Ottakring in 2012, I attended the Department of Building and Environmental Engineering at the HTL in Mödling (Lower Austria) for three semesters.

During a two-month hitchhiking trip through Japan, I was inspired by traditional cultures and handicrafts and gained a deep insight into Shingon Buddhism. What fascinated me most was the art of blacksmithing and its traditional processing of steel. My passion for photography also developed during this trip.

From winter 2013 I attended several courses at the Schmiedeakademie in Ybbsitz (Lower Austria), where I was able to learn from Mag. Christine Habermann, HR DI Gernot Walter and Thomas Hochstädt. As a result of this suggestion, I began to attend the HTL in Steyr (Austria) in 2014 and finished in 2019 with a diploma thesis and final examination to become an blacksmith and metal sculptor.

During my training in Steyr, I did internships at internationally recognized blacksmiths. In 2016 I was at Lilienstahl in Ernstbrunn (Lower Austria) and learned how to make high-quality damask knives from master blacksmith Florian Stockinger. I was also able to gain insight into materials research at the TGM.

In 2018, I had the privilege of working as an assistant blacksmith for the internationally acclaimed blacksmith Nigel Barnett in Norfolk (UK). I was involved in large-scale projects and also in Mr. Barnett’s special skill of “caravan” construction out of wood. In addition to other small works, I learned restoration work, whereby Mr. Barnett entrusted me with the responsibility of completing a restoration project of a historical memorial.

A studio partnership with Mario Werndl’s Loftelier began with the diploma project to produce a case lock based on a historical model using modern manufacturing techniques, which was continued with commissioned work, restoration work and own art objects.

Since 2019 I am a volunteer secretary at the Sound Brigade Cultural Association and support the association in planning processes, as well as photographic documentation at events, such as the Blood Moon Festival at the Böllerbauer Cultural Association in The Hague (Lower Austria).

After feeling the desire to combine metal with glass, I decided to attend the College for Object Design and Production at the PHTL in Kramsach (T) in 2019. In the autumn of 2019, I also attended glassmaking courses outside the school, which took place under the direction of Richard Weber.
The resulting glass objects have been exhibited at Sabine Kliment-Feuerberg's gallery Leiwaund in Steyr in autumn 2019.

As part of the Forging Christmas 2019 in Steyr, I had the opportunity to present my works with a sales stand, ranging from photography to blacksmiths to glass objects. In cooperation with Fabian Hager of H-ART-Metall, a show forge was also operated.

As part of my training in the glass school, I was allowed to complete a one-month internship at the company Riess Kelomat GmbH in Ybbsitz. In this environment I was able to collect enormous knowledge about industrial enamels and to make first exhibits.