GREG D. RIDGLEY —
Sublimating the angst of war
Greg D. Ridgley at work in his shop. Spokane, WA
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Two years after high school, Greg D. Ridgley enlisted in the reserves of the U.S. Army. His grandpa always spoke well of his service in the military, so how bad could it be? He thought. Now an Iraq veteran, Greg D. Ridgley uses his artistic talent to transform the destruction of the Iraq War into handcrafted wrought iron beauty in the tradition of old-world craftsmanship. He adorns each property with monuments of healing that commemorate the true love sacrifices of America’s combat veterans. Greg’s service in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 left him with post-traumatic stress. Working with raw metal eases the disorder, he said. “I take the destruction that we’ve seen in Iraq and I take the metal and I manually scroll it by hand into something beautiful and lasting and positive,” Ridgley said. For more information: |
 Serving in Kirkuk, Iraq 2005 |
 Then 1985Now 2009 |
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In July 2009 – a new entrance gate at Fort George Wright Cemetery in northwest Spokane – was unveiled.
“It’s a testament to the sacrifices that have been made, that are being made and will be made in the future,” he said in explaining the work.
Ridgley has turned his skill as a welder into a new business, Redemptive Ironworks Inc., and he said he built the gates as a donation to Spokane and to introduce his business1.
Watch Greg’s television interview.
1 Source: The Spokesman-Review
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greg! its tamie gibson ,god blress u for serving are country and keeping us safe … im sorry to hear about your disorder you can overcome your disorder,best wishes
happy 2011 p.s you have a wonderful grandpa:)
Comment by tamie — January 10, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
I recognized your high school pic. Not sure if you remember me. Great work on the gate. It is good to have a hobby to help us all get through.
Take care and God Bless,
Luana
Comment by Luana Plonski (Urpin) — March 4, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
Excellent work Greg, so proud to have you as an alumni of our class!
Comment by Joanne Pittman — February 26, 2010 @ 8:56 am
Wow Greg. I knew you were in the military and I knew you beautifully handcrafted iron, but I had no idea about what compelled you to do either. I am amazed that you have taken such a haunting disorder and found something to help you cope visually, mentally and emotionally. You renamed and replaced the pain of your labor in the military with a labor of love and beauty through ironwork. You are an inspiration to all who suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder and to all of us who know you. Thank you.
Comment by Anonymous — February 17, 2010 @ 9:54 am
wow! greg this is great. i had no idea. i’m so impressed. really wonderful work you’re doing. so great. what an inspiration you are.
Comment by Michelle Manire — February 16, 2010 @ 8:44 pm