Villas Man Spreads Scripture with Metal Art

VILLAS – Cold forging, hot forging, welding, grinding, and hammering are all part of the tools and techniques artist Gregg Bratsberg uses to create his one-of-a-kind metal sculptures.
The work entails harsh conditions and a lot of trial and error. That can also describe a lot of Bratsberg’s life, as he has dealt with emotional issues for many years.
It has led him to some poor decision making, but has also taught him to depend more on his faith and less on his feelings. “I have let my emotions get the better of me, but I learned that God has a plan for my life in His time, not mine,” Bratsberg explained.
Hailing from Fort Bragg, Calif., Bratsberg attended boot camp at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May and fell in love with the area, requesting his permanent duty in Cape May. While stationed here, he met his wife, Lisa.
He left the Coast Guard in 1990 and returned to California, but returned to Cape May County in 2011, working welding fishing vessels. After working and leaving several jobs, Bratsberg realized his emotional state was making it hard to hold a job.
He soon turned to metalwork to stay occupied, and back to his faith to keep himself balanced.
“I started attending Cape Community Church. God’s word inspires me, and the people there have offered me encouragement and prayers,” he said.
Bratsberg’s first sculpture was a dog, fashioned from an oil tank he cut in half and hammered into shape. The dog sits at the entrance to the soon-to-open Bergin University of Canine Studies in Penngrove, Calif.
“My interest in metal sculpture just took off from there,” Bratsberg said.
He began thinking of pieces he could easily make with limited tools, limited materials, and great appeal. He decided to try his hand at swords. He also decided all future work would sport a verse of scripture somewhere on the piece.
“I wanted my art to be a way for me to tell others about what God has done in my life and to be an encouragement for someone who may be dealing with issues like I do, and show them there is an answer. Come to church, we’ll sit down and talk about what Jesus Christ has done for me,” Bratsberg explained.
His first sword was a gift to Pastor Brad Boyer of Cape Community Church. The sword bears the mission and vision statements of the church.
“As an expert in medieval history, the sword is a perfect recreation of a medieval knight’s sword. His art is a great venue to get the Gospel out and a way for him to be used of God,” Boyer said.
Bratsberg has created several swords and shields, all which are inscribed with scripture. “I won’t make a piece unless it includes a verse from the Bible,” said Bratsberg.
Following the swords and shields, Bratsberg began to sculpt small horseshoe crabs; creatures he feels embody the nature of the South Jersey shore.
After finishing a few of the smaller crabs, Bratsberg decided to attempt a full-size, anatomically correct Limulus polyphemus or Atlantic horseshoe crab. The finished sculpture is made of mostly recycled steel, measuring 16 inches long, eight inches wide, and six inches deep, weighing 12.8 pounds (not the true weight of a horseshoe crab). The crab has an articulated opisthosoma (abdomen) and telson (tail). Bratsberg invested 250 hours into the sculpture.
The piece bears a passage from Psalm 104: “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number – living things both large and small.”
Bratsberg donated the piece to the Villas branch of the Cape May County Library, which has a Maritime Museum. The library also houses a metal fishing boat Bratsberg crafted out of a metal clothesline pole he accidentally backed over with his truck.
Bratsberg gives a lot of credit to the people praying for him and studying scripture with him, but especially appreciates the volunteer help he has received from two church members.
“Carol Conway and Betty Pruszinski have helped make my work possible. Carol has helped me get supplies and tools and even sold a few of my pieces, and Betty has taken some pieces to galleries and deals with anyone interested in my artwork. She is like my agent,” Bratsberg said, with a chuckle.
“Working with Gregg (Bratsberg) has really helped me, too,” Pruszinski said. “Going out and talking to people has given me a lot of confidence, and the scripture on his art makes it easy to talk to people about the Lord.”
Bratsberg would like to fashion another crab and is working on a ballerina for the daughter of a friend, but a lot of his time is spent rebuilding the shop in his yard. He knows there will be plenty of projects on the horizon.
“God has given me this ability, and I could do none of this without Him. I also couldn’t have done this without my church, my pastor, and the prayers of friends.” 
To find out more about Bratsberg’s work, call Pruszinski at 609-675-3247.
To contact Carl Price, email cprice@cmcherald.com.