Every February, Americans and Alaskans take a moment to honor Black history month and KTUU’s second profile showcases a local artist forging steel into artwork.
Norman Beasley is an art student at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
"Steel is the medium I use for my sculpture degree. My secondary of the art, I guess, is drawing," says Norman Beasley.
Beasley attributes his love for steel to his family roots. He said a couple of his uncles were steel workers in Pittsburgh until the late 70s or 80s when the mills were shut down. Although out of work, there was a positive.
"It was good that it happened because that's all they held on to. Cause that's all they felt they were good enough for. And that's something that I grew up around. You know, saying, 'There is always better. You don't have to settle for what you don't want.'"
A message he tries to share with others.
"I talk to a lot of people that people would say are a bad influence on another person, or I guess a danger to society. I just tell them there's more out there for yourself if you allow yourself to go get it."
Beasley cites Alaska’s winters as a difficult journey.
"Life's just not going to be always great," he says. "I mean Alaska's great in the summer but we all know what happens in January and February."
Beasley says Black History Month serves as a reminder of what he should be doing.
"I just don't think I should be lazy. I gotta to get this. I gotta do this. And it's like I gotta make something of myself."
Beasley reveals the paths to success can be learned by educating yourself and breaking through personal boundaries.
"Do what they did back in the day. They fought for what they want physically. We have mental capacity. We have that. We're not having to steal a book like having to hide a book under the bed or floorboard nowadays. We have a library and we have the web. It's like you're hindering yourself and that's not what our ancestors wanted. That's not what they wanted."
More of Beasley’s artwork can be seen at http://patchwork86.deviantart.com.
He also has a non-metal piece on display at the International Gallery of Art in downtown Anchorage through the end of February.
