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Tradesman crafts art from concrete for building projects

Tribune Chronicle / Virginia Shank Jess Warren of North Jackson, owner of Quest-Crete Studios, explains the process of customizing concrete for customers.

NORTH JACKSON — It all started with a customer who encouraged local craftsman Jess Warren to market and expand his business.

About nine years ago, Warren, a veteran construction worker, was helping build a house in Berlin Center. The owner wanted a custom concrete countertop for his bar in the basement. Warren pitched his idea for the project and the customer liked it. He was so pleased with the result that he told Warren, who owns Quest-Crete Studios in North Jackson, he should market his skills as a decorative concrete artist and expand his business.

“I didn’t really pay a lot of attention to that at first, just kind of dismissed it,” Warren said. “I thought he was joking. I didn’t really see it.”

But then word of Warren’s work spread and soon he found himself traveling around the U.S., including to Nashville, Tenn.; Phoenix; Windsor, N.Y.; and Scotland, S.D., adding customized projects to his portfolio.

“It just took off and next thing I knew, more and more people were wanting customized projects,” Warren said. “It’s grown from there.”

Warren wanted to specialize in something and he realized working on customized projects was his answer.

Last year he was invited to join Concrete Wolf Pack, a group of skilled concrete artists from around the country who work in collaboration on large-scale projects — some of which are created to benefit various organizations.

Chad Guthmiller, the group’s leader, said its purpose is to “move our craft into the future, evolve our talents and break new ground of what we can create.”

The group recently gathered in South Dakota to create a number of original concrete art pieces, including a diamond-encrusted Northern Wolves logo on an outdoor patio bar that will be raffled to raise money for the Northern State University athletics program in Aberdeen, S.D.

While some of the works are being used to raise funds for selected causes, others are being sold to the public. Warren said being part of the group has allowed him to hone his skills and develop “truly imaginative pieces.”

He also has opportunities to work with the other members when the group is hired for projects.

“Once I met the other members of the group, I truly realized what an honor it was to be selected,” said Warren. “It really is a chance to share your knowledge and learn from others.”

‘MORE AND

MORE POPULAR’

Warren realizes that many people associate concrete with driveways or sidewalks.

But his business, which employs two full-time and one part-time worker, specializes in creating countertops, tabletops, fireplaces and other one-off projects. His crew has more than 100 years of experience among them, he said.

He said the trend toward customized, decorative concrete projects is growing among home and business owners.

“It’s becoming more and more popular. People like the idea of having something created that is unique, one-of-a-kind that you won’t find anywhere else, in any other home or business,” he said.

For example, Warren’s work crew has made boulders look like bowls and crafted sinks into the shape of guitars.

He works closely with his customers to create the color schemes, designs and textures they want. Typically, someone will approach him with an idea or a sketch and he works with the client to develop the idea into a customized project.

“There’s a whole world of possibilities,” he said. “Every project is a collaboration.”

Some customers prefer modern; others favor rustic. “When you use concrete, it’s amazing what you can come up with,” he said.

He said many people are surprised at the options and the “art-making process” with concrete.

“Most folks think they’re coming in to look at one color. They don’t know the options available, the process of mixing colors, and the effort that goes into it, the customization behind it. We make our own forms, the molds for the sculpted pieces we create.” he said. “And a great thing about this process is that the customer gets to be part of the design aspect. It gives them a sense of vested interest. And there are never any two the same. The creativity behind it is the real gift to the customer.”

BROTHERHOOD

Warren plans to soon join a group of about 10 concrete artists who will travel to New York to help a custom decorative artist who has cancer. The group plans to finish the colleague’s projects to “help keep him afloat” so he doesn’t lose his business.

“It’s also a great training opportunity for those who are interested, but most importantly a way to help out a friend,” Warren said. “Usually you get together training, not to produce works together to sell or to benefit an organization, cause or something. It’s a great opportunity to be able to get together, a group of us, to help each other out, to encourage each other, learn from each other and share what we know. It’s a brotherhood of artists who want to take that next step and really create something unique and original. It’s great to be part of something like that.”

vshank@tribtoday.com

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