Inner Workings coming to Hill City Main Street

Inner Workings, a handcrafted metal art gallery, will be coming soon to Hill City’s Main Street.

The name is as representative as the art itself. 

After losing her job, Cari Sherman’s mother-in-law encouraged her to take a jewelry making class. From there, her craft evolved into metal work.

Cari found that creating art was a way for her to cope with her PTSD from her time serving in the military during Operation Iraqi Freedom. When she concentrates on her craft, “I can tune the world out,” said Cari.

Cari and her husband, Kevin, work side-by-side to manufacture copper silhouettes with a colorful patina finish that they create by applying heat. 

“It started out as therapy,” said Cari, “and then it became more.”

Cari hand cuts the copper silhouettes using a jewelry saw. Then, they tarnish the copper with a flame, and Kevin assembles the finished pieces, sometimes adding fairy lights behind for the final touch. 

“Every one of them is one-hundred percent unique because of how we patina it,” said Kevin. “And the pieces are never cut the same twice.”

Each handcrafted piece takes an average of two days to complete. 

“If I can just concentrate on working on it, it usually takes a day or two to make a piece,” said Cari. 

The Shermans hope to open Inner Workings May 1.