Joe Conner, a Navy veteran and artist, began putting together military model airplanes, which he discovered he enjoyed.
The intricacies and detail of putting together each part challenged him and made him think outside the box. Over time he found himself designing and assembling small crafts, which was quite fun and stumbled upon the creation of metal art pins.
“Once I got started, I couldn’t stop,” said Conner. “After making the pins, I found I really enjoyed looking at the finished product and got a sense of joy and happiness. I thought, maybe I could share them with others and help bring that same joy and happiness into their lives.”
He started out making circular pins, using the tops of perishable soup cans or any can top he could find. Biscuit or croissant tins worked well.
“I found that smaller cans work the best and are more durable,” stated Conner.
Once the tops are removed, he begins to paint and assemble the tops into works of art. Overtime, he made so many pins that boxes and boxes began to fill his garage. After he had amassed enough, he knew the next step would be to share his pins with others. Conner now donates his pins regularly and entirely free of charge to the local Valencia County Gold Star Mothers chapter members, the Rio Grande Chapter, the Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Mothers chapter’s in Albuquerque. To date, he embraces all members of the State of New Mexico chapters.
“Making the pins is something I enjoy doing but giving back to Veterans and the community makes it all the worth-while,” Conner stated.
Conner is currently retired but has a machine shop and creates various items out of metal including a small cannon he made for the New Mexico VA Creative Arts festival in 2018, winning 2nd prize and a pin, entitled, “Badge of Courage” which took home first place in 2019. He regularly submits a metal craft piece to the annual festival.
Over the past year, he has begun to make both Blue Star Mother's and Gold Star Mother's flowers and lapel pins. He gives them the pins to display and donate during Gold Star Mother’s events. Conner mentioned he learned about the important work the Blue Star
Joe Conner, Navy Veteran & artist