The Making of Welder Underground

It's been a while since I've shared anything on Linkedin. Mainly because I’ve been focused on building a new initiative for the nonprofit side of the work we do. It’s called Welder Underground, and it teaches young adults to become certified welders and metal fabricators by partnering with established artists to build large-scale public art.?

Our first project is Rappin’ Max Robot by the artist Eric Orr.

Welder Underground was designed to ignite the next generation of welders through artistic and technical training. We found an incredible partner in ESAB Cutting Automation who provided the support, equipment and consumables to help shape launch the initiative.??

Our first project (as I wrote above) was an artistic reinterpretation of Eric Orr’s iconic Rappin’ Max Robot, which we built in our Brooklyn location into an 18 ft. tall, 7,000 pound steel sculpture. It was built as a donation from the Home of Hip Hop to Paris to commemorate the first Olympics to feature breaking as a sport. Currently, it’s at its first stop in NYC outside The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, symbolically overseeing construction of the museum which is slated to open in 2025.??

What excites me most about Welder Underground is its ability to innovate within the welding industry with the help of ESAB. Our apprenticeship program is a unique “earn while you learn” model, providing young adults welding certification while creating a direct pipeline to jobs. Apprentices master all aspects of metal fabrication and welding, positioned to be at the forefront of the industry and the new era of innovation happening in it.

This first cohort is just the beginning for Welder Underground. We are committed to partnering with artists, industry professionals, corporations, and communities to expand our reach and impact. If you see an opportunity for collaboration, please don’t hesitate to reach out.?

“Rappin’ Max Robot” will be on display outside the Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx through September 2024. It will then make a stop (or two) in New York City before heading to Paris, where it will be unveiled on the one-year anniversary of the Olympics.?

Thank you again to ESAB for making this project possible and to our community partner The Hip Hop Museum for showcasing the work.?

Check out the party we had to unveil the sculpture and celebrate the launch of Welder Underground and The Odyssey of Rappin' Max Robot.

#WelderUnderground #ProjectBasedLearning #WeldingInnovation #NonProfit #Apprenticeship