-Proprietor & Lead Designer -
ANDREW PREISS
ANDREW PREISS
Since receiving a BA in Design from Duke University in 1991, Andrew Preiss has owned and operated ARP Design Studio, creating unique custom furnishings as well as large-scale, site-specific sculptural installations and restaurant interiors. Working full-time as a sole proprietor, he has served thousands of residential and commercial clients in over a dozen states and provided pieces for seven galleries.
He has also participated in numerous juried group shows, including touring exhibits at the Parsons School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, and The Duke University Museum of Art. In 2011, Preiss was awarded the best craftsman of the year by Durham Magazine.Most aspects of each project including design, material acquisition, and construction are done in house. Meticulous care and attention to detail, as well as faithfully meeting deadlines and obligations have always been among the highest priorities of the business. "A primary goal of my work is to encourage interaction between the objects and sculptural forms I create and the user or viewer. In so doing, I hope to engender appreciation of everyday activities and public spaces by promoting a recognition of the integral role art and design can serve in creating a richer and more stimulating environment.”
References available on request
RYAN MRACHE
Ryan spent 4 years alternating between academic studies and varying work experiences. Spending that time working for a small home renovation company he learned a wide variety of valuable trade skills. After a a brief return to university he took an opportunity to work on a small farm in Hillsborough, NC where he was incidentally introduced to the forge and the world of blacksmithing. He immediately became enamored by the craft and decided to continue down that path.
Shortly after his time on the farm ended he took various welding courses at Durham Technical Community College as a baseline for entering the metal working world. After dinner with a mutual friend Ryan was introduced to Andrew Preiss as a potential resource for finding his way into metal working world. After a brief introductory period he was offered an apprenticeship under Andrew and quickly honed his craft with tutelage and guidance over the course of the next few years. His responsibilities grew within the shop to include fabrication and shop organization and flow.
In addition to metal work he has applied his computer skills towards digital layout/CAD work as well as being the webmaster for the studio's online presence.
-Shop Foreman & Digital Design-
RYAN MRACHE