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Michigan Heritage Awards
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Arts Nomination
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^ MHA Awardees List ^
Photo by Mary Whalen
Photo by C. Kurt Dewhurst
1996 awardee, Detroit (Wayne County), ornamental iron worker
Ornamental ironwork is a widespread Hispanic tradition, and Tony Martinez, b. 1948, is a key figure in the perpetuation of that tradition in Detroit. Tony was born in Cadas in the southwest region of Colombia, where almost every house has window guards and decorative doors and gates made of ornamental iron. In Tony's mind, "a typical street scene has scrolled ornamental iron displayed everywhere." (1)
Members of the Martinez family have been ironworkers for a number
of years, specializing in a type of ironwork known as the Spanish
scroll style. Tony first learned his ironmaking skills by watching
his uncle in Colombia and, after immigrating to Detroit, by
working with his brother Joe. In 1971 Tony and his brothers
established a decorative iron business. Eventually Tony took
over the business, re-named it Disenos Ornamental Iron, and
relocated it in the heart of Detroit's Mexican Town. He employs
a year-round staff of 4 and as many as 30 skilled and experienced
ornamental ironworkers during busier times of the year. Many
of the seasonal workers are from Latin American countries and,
after the busy season is over, some return home.
According to Tony, "this is hard work, you really need sometimes
to concentrate working 12-14 hour days." (2) His and
his employees' hard work has paid off and the products of Disenos
Ornamental Iron are evident in windows, doors, gates, and fences
throughout Mexican Town. Tony even designed and fabricated a
special Mexican Town logo that is affixed to lampposts in Mexican
Town.
Because of Tony's dedication to fine craftsmanship and his skill in creating new designs in iron, he is now greatly in demand by architects and building contractors for crafting ironwork. He is counted among a select group of artisans whose high-quality work is suitable for both new buildings and for restorations of older buildings. As a result, his Spanish scroll traditional ironwork as well as innovative designs can now be seen on private and public buildings throughout the metropolitan Detroit area.
(1) Martinez, Tony. Personal communication with Kurt Dewhurst.
16 September 1994.
(2) Martinez, Tony. Personal communication with Kurt Dewhurst.
16 September 1994.
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