The Making of Things
I’m Dace Ruthven—a maker at heart. My work spans metal forging, music, writing, and the practical craft of building systems that work. What connects these disciplines is an obsession with process: understanding how things come together, from raw material to finished form.
Metalwork
My foundation is in metal. I’ve had the privilege of working at the Metal Museum in Memphis, where I deepened my understanding of traditional metalsmithing techniques. This led to roles in metalworking manufacturing, where I learned to bridge artistic craft with industrial precision. Whether forging a sculptural piece or engineering a production workflow, the principles remain the same—heat, hammer, patience.
Music
I play in two bands: Gilded Creatures and Ghost Cult. Music is another form of making—shaping sound instead of steel. The collaborative nature of bands teaches you things that solitary craft cannot: how to listen, how to adapt, how to serve the work rather than your ego.
Writing
Words are yet another material to shape. I write because some ideas demand a different form than metal or melody can provide.
GreenBoxGaming Podcast
I’m part of the GreenBoxGaming podcast, where we explore games, storytelling, and the culture around them.
Print Shop
I built a screen printing operation from the ground up—sourcing and refurbishing equipment, designing the physical layout, creating workflows, and managing ongoing production. It’s a different kind of making: designing systems rather than objects, but equally rewarding.
Woodworking
Wood is forgiving in ways that metal is not, and unforgiving in others. I work in wood when the project demands it, bringing the same attention to joinery and finish that I apply to any material.
What unites all of this is simple: I make things. I figure out how they work, and then I make them work better.