How a Woman Transforms Tarnished Metals into Antique Memories
Out of all the random collections of silver antiques in her studio – old watches, recycled tin cans, computer parts and old silverware – Bridget Hoerner’s laugh is what takes up the most space, as she strategically turns trash into an array of irreplicable artwork. Since 2007, her business, “Gone Loopy” has transformed the dusted cutlery in cupboards into one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
Hoerner is an antique artist who repurposes rusty and tarnished metals into sculptures, jewelry, keychains and other miscellaneous household items. Her process is far from delicate, as she braces herself before she hammers generations of spoons, files down sharp minerals and shaves her pieces to enhance their shine.
“Gone Loopy,” was inspired by a conversation Hoerner had with her mother-in-law. She said that during difficult times her mother-in-law asked her, “What are you going to do to keep from being loopy?” and she laughed and told her that maybe someday she’d open up her own business and call it “Gone Loopy.” In 2008, that’s exactly what she did.
Hoerner’s art journey started while simultaneously juggling being a student at Radford University for special-ed and raising three kids under the age of six. She opened her first store online shortly after graduating in 2008, but had to close it down due to property issues. After working a reception job for a few years, she quit and picked up her passion once again.
“Finally I was like, I’m not doing this anymore,” she said. “I’m going back to what is me, and this is me.” Since 2013, she has worked on her art everyday, and in 2021 made it her full time career.
Her art is greatly influenced by generational family ties and heirlooms. Her father is one of her biggest inspirations, as he inspired her to learn how to weld and challenge herself creatively. Her three children inherited her talent in other ways: one owns a leather jewelry business, one has started tattooing and the other supports Hoerner’s festivals. Her granddaughters have also made rings and keychains in Hoerner’s studio. Her artwork is made from pieces of different families' passed down cutlery and traditions, which she creates while simultaneously passing down her own legacy in her family.
Hoerner currently attends art festivals every weekend, and most recently participated in Staunton's “Art in the Park” festival on August 30 and 31. The uniqueness of her art is not only due to the timeless layers of her craft, but also her charm and soul that adds a glistening shine to each individual metal piece. Hoerner does what she does to give back to her community in rediscovering old memories in unique ways.
“When people look at my work and smile and say, ‘this silverware pattern was my grandma's,’ or ‘your artwork is so fun,’ it just makes me so happy,” she said. “Those kinds of things light something up inside of me.”
