From Dona Meilach
Friday, June 04, 2004 6:15 PM

 Here are 3 of the last images Stephen Bondi sent to me before his final surgery. He said the surgery was like going into uncharted waters...not like the Bermuda Triangle. They are from his research of Carlo Rizzarda. He was fascinated by the work of the early Italian Art Nouveau and Art Deco ironworkers.

 Stephen's energy and talents were snuffed out long before they should have been. His own work, done is his flowering years was a joy to study; his working the metal as though it was clay in his hands, his joinery, and
forms were all uniquely his.

 Anyone who saw him, worked with him at the Flagstaff ABANA Conference couldn't help but be impressed by his hosting and translation of the Italian artists. He was exhausted but never complained. And it was 30 years ago, when I wrote my first ironwork book, that Stephan introduced me to Simon Benetton. We have all kept in touch ever since.

 I shall miss Stephan, his input and enthusiasm. As I gathered material for my books; his suggestions for artists whose work should be included, and general support when I wondered if I would ever finish one book and then another, were always there when I lagged.  When he flew down from Berkeley to San Diego and spent a few days curating CONTEMPORARY IRONWORK, he was in his glory, and became a member of the family. He itched to be able to do his own work, but his health prevented him from the hard work of the forge. Instead he poured the energy he could muster to traipse around Italy and photograph and interview the Italian blacksmiths who will remember him as fondly as I do.

 On the day he heard of Stephen's death, Bruno Corriani sent me an email: "Dona, known about the death of my great friend Stephan Bondi, Today it is an ugly day for the art and also for me."
 An embrace.
 Bruno Corriani,
 blacksmith in Italy .

photos by Carlo Rizzarda

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