Kiesling House hosts leather art demonstration
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NEW ULM -- The Kiesling House hosted a leather art demonstration Saturday with leather artisan Dan Cochran.
The demonstration was held in the Kiesling House basement. Visitors could find Cochran hammer away at his latest commission – a custom leather belt. In addition to punching holes, he decorated the belt border with special leather detailing tools.
It is a long and detailed process but the end result is an item that will last a lifetime.
"You can pass leather down to the next generation," Cochran said. An item made out of leather will still be useful decades later and maintain its shape.
Leathercraft has been around for centuries, and many of the tools remain the same. Cochran said the tools he uses to decorate leather have not changed much in the last century. The leather punches have become more elaborate, and the mallet he uses to hammer the leather punches is made out of modern polymers with a more ergonomic design, but the principle of the craftwork is the same as it was 100 years ago.
Cochran started working with leather in 1995. He had previously managed a store with his brother but wanted to try something else.
Cochran said he had always appreciated the western lifestyle. He had seen leather items coming into the store he managed. Customers would have leather items, like a wallet they had held on to for years. He decided to give leather working a try. He eventually learned enough to do it professionally through the help of some great mentors.
Cochran views leatherwork as a form of art, but a functional form of art. He said it is one of the few jobs in which he has been able to see the results of his work. He's able to see the customers use the items and get the enjoyment of them.
Cochran's leather demonstration was the penultimate program at the Kiesling House this year. The final program of the year will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 4 on the Art of Spinning.