Persistence Pays for Frank Strunk III

On a sunny day in Gulfport, Strunk is on deadline, busy completing a project that is due Saturday. Strunk and fellow Gulfport artist, Owen Pach, were commissioned by the Merchants’ Association to create signature pieces of work to be displayed at the entrance to Beach Boulevard.

He takes a break from the task he hates to call work. Strunk, 47, is covered in soot and his hands are black from countless hours of metalwork. Nevertheless, he is prepared to share his story.

It all started 17 years ago when Strunk moved to the area due to a lucrative real estate market for carpentry. After freelancing his skills for a year or so, Strunk was starting to see a trend in his down time.

“There was always kind of a thread that lead me to more creative things,” explained Strunk. “I would save wood and scraps and make things out of them.”

Over time, Strunk found that as much as he loved carpentry, the doorway to the world of art was a temptation that he could not resist. He described his need to create as something he “had to do.”

After years of a transitioning from construction to art, Strunk was ready to take on art as a full time job. Luckily, he had some previous knowledge about the journey he was about to set sail on.

Strunk hails from Rockville, a county in Maryland known for its tie to the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area. Growing up around his father’s print shop sparked Strunk’s interest in machinery and its function, that he describes as “synchronous harmony.”

Much like his work today, the industrial sized printing presses were fascinating to Strunk in his youth. His years at the print shop would pay off. Strunk notes his time there as a springboard into his creative venture as an artist.

“I’m genetically predisposed to curiosity,” said Strunk. “And I’m not afraid of hard work.”

Self taught, Strunk says that he “barely made it through high school.” After less than a year of junior college, he found himself asking “what am I doing here?” He experimented with all kinds of raw materials before discovering his love for metalwork.

“Once I started to really dig into metal, it just spoke to me,” said Strunk.

Now, Strunk is commissioned for his work on a consistent basis. Aside from customized pieces, he puts his work on display at art shows around the country. Most recently, Strunk was selected to participate at the Winter Park Art Festival. Roughly 2,500 applicants entered to take part in the event, and only 200 were chosen.

Strunk is entering his 12th year as an independent artist. Bearing tattoos that declare “believe” and “persist” on his forearm, Strunk credits his successes to the two traits.

“It’s a truly blessed journey of opportunity,” said Strunk of his path to self-discovery as an artist. “It is not without its snags, but I think it’s more of a practice of persistence and belief.”

Join Frank Strunk III and Owen Pach this Saturday at the entrance to Beach Boulevard at 28th Ave. S. as they unveil their creative gifts to the City of Gulfport. The ribbon cutting will be held at 4 p.m., and guests are invited to join in the post ceremony fun in the “Alley of the Arts” (5437 29th Ave. S.) from 5-7 p.m.