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The Collaboratory
Making its home in a re-purposed fire station, the Collaboratory in Denver, Colorado is a hive of creative activity. Whether customers are looking for architectural inspiration, aesthetic installations, education, strategy, mentoring or even hands on team building workshops, the gallery of Working Art is a one-stop shop extension for “Thought and Action” intersecting, to “Make Ideas Tangible”.
See, You Tube to view us "Making Ideas Tangible" at The Collaboratory
Working Art was originaly developed by Khabir Salahadyn to continue his life, long exploration of the intersection between art and architecture. Starting at an early age, Khabir’s understanding of materials has taken him through the realms of cardboard and salvaged mechanical components to specializing in manipulating metals and other substantial and sustainable minerals into sculptures of Working Art structures, re-inventing, “Interactive Hard Art”. A member of the Colorado chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Working Art specializes in building beautiful additions to your property’s environment that are functional, artistic, often educational and always thought provoking. Creating Works of Art that become an applicable integration and addition to your daily life in every way.
The driving force behind the Collaboratory is the husband and wife team of Khabir Salahadyn and Ceri Jones Salahadyn, dedicated, not only to making art but developing and applying tools to equip citizens engagement in productive endeavors, making productive agents in our social and economic societies!
One of the many phrases Ceri & Khabir both, align and aspire to was said by one of the worlds great Master Builders, Antonio Gaudi, who said:"To be Original one must first know the Origin". For the life long learning and integrity of the work produced by the the Salahadyn's, Origin is vital to their understanding and hungrily sought at every opportunity, weaving origin into the fabric of everything they do as they simultaneously intersect through the origin of the Arabic name Khabir meaning "Aware" and the origin of the Welsh name Ceri meaning "Love".
The diversity and range of the Salahadyn's talents are being continually explored and fused within the intersection of The Collaboratory space and offered to create and apply unique solutions to the most complex of problems.
For young ladies, women, businesses and institutional owners, the Collaboratory also houses The Whole Way, a service organization offered as an extension to Ceri’s 20 year experience that spans across an extensive range of International business and leadership experience within Industry. Ceri is passionate about the potential effectiveness that organizational and balanced leadership can have in the world and is deeply engaged in that process. The Collaboratory, will also work with you to find a way to incorporate hands-on art courses, as well as tangible representations of your visions, that can be weaved into the fabric of your personal and corporate environments, combining your work and life space with your own creativity. "Making Tangible Ways", The Whole Way.
Fans of Working Art can join them in a variety of instructional classes and team building workshops, such as “Sparks of Creativity”, “You Will Weld” and more. After you’ve spent a short time learning the essentials of welding, the team at the Collaboratory’s Ability Center will help you decide where to turn next with your hands on talent and how to apply it to your existing repertoire. As part of their holistic approach, the Salahadyn's also offer counseling services to help you develop your personal roadmap to follow your dreams to success. The Ability Center promotes a firm belief in readying and supporting people from all walks of life for sustainable employment and long-term prosperity. It is refreshing to see the culmination of creative prowess, hands-on structural employment training, strategic navigation systems and team building with fire, all under one roof!
Fans of the Collaboratory should visit the online boutique, with a wide array of items for purchase ranging from jewelry, accessories, handrails, wall installations, and more, all made at The Collaboratory by the Salahadyn’s and the Working Art crew. Perhaps most beautiful, and useful, are the stunning Water Sculptures (that are also perfect humidifiers) they call “Water Windows". The combinations of aluminum, glass, steel, bronze, and various woods create functional art installations in any place within your home, educational or business environment.
Recently I met Ceri and Khabir at their home office. They call it the Collaboratory. Before I arrived, I had these images in my mind of how I thought it might look. I knew it had been a fire station some years back. And how appropriate for Khabir, who's medium is fire. I imagined... Well, it was nothing like what I imagined. Instead, it was this massive garage with no windows or painted drywall, it was extremely raw yet fully functional. All of the furniture was outfitted with casters in order for it to be moved at a moments notice. It was like a universe, where change is constant and shifts are made to give birth to the new. There were aluminum sculptures with cascading water... Or maybe they were creative juices flowing down front of them. I was invited to stick my hand in. Now I regret that I forgot to. There was a dominant piece in the corner that stood as an anchor, proud and aware of its power, I even saw a furry moon glowing up above in the atmosphere of these creatives.
We sat down sipped tea as light music danced in the background. I soaked in the words as Khabir communicated his burning passion to create. He explained process and the need to constantly expand outside of what has already been done. Then his wife Ceri would chime in, almost on cue, and add the finishing touches to a verbal masterpiece. I realized that I was before great "men" and that there was room for me there. We continued to exchange gifts through the evening and I left realizing that I had been a witness to the power of an idea called the Collaboratory.
Mandle Rivers Rousseau
Owner of Control FREQ
Controlfreq.net
Our Vision
"Making Ideas Tangible" that work to communicate and embody the vitality of expression and support "Making a Tangible Way". That enables functionality and communicates visions, missions, values and goals. Forms and connections that relate a universal language. Creating a satisfying inevitability, that can be sensed by all and further create an understanding that is honored by time and offers an orientation to corporations, institutions, communities, public and private space environments.
Our Mission
To serve the full potential of Working Art and The Whole Way creating unfolding value, within the process of "Making Ideas Tangible".Through impeccable service, understanding, creativity, ability and collaboration.
Our teams aim, is to use our individual and collective integrity, gifts, ability and capacity to fully appreciate the Privilege of "Making Ideas Tangible" embrace the Responsibility of the Working Art forms we make and the advice we share as we "Make Tangible Ways", The Whole Way.
Our philosophy:
We believe that it is the perpetual systems we live within that creates our environment and our state. Therefore, by intentionally creating both your environment and our state we are consciously feeding the perpetual systems that allow us to do and be more.
Our aim is to use the minerals and elements to create real forms, that serve the vitality of expression within our perpetual systems. As well as supporting the leaders within systems, that are being evolved, transformed and created within our communities, corporations, institutions, public and private spaces.
We are, Artists, Fabricators and Makers:
We "Make Ideas Tangible" for:
Khabir Salahadyn
Khabir is the founding steward, President and full time Professor of Working Art and "Making Ideas Tangible" as well as the co-creator of The Collaboratory and Working Art The Whole Way.
Through his fertile wit, deep intentions, capacity and ability as an Artist, Inventor and Master Builder, Khabir is Working Art "Making Ideas Tangible".
Khabir was born in Milwaukee, WI. Khabir's nature as an Artist, earned him best in show at his first Art competition in the 1st grade and by 3rd grade he was taking classes at the art Institute of Wisconsin through an honoree Art scholarship. Khabir attended collage in Mississippi and has degrees in, Industrial drafting and Architectural drafting. As well as studies in Mechanical and Structural Engineering, Khabir is a sheet metal Journeyman, Certified FHWA / DOT Mechanic, Inspector and Welder. Khabir is also a Certified Structural Welder, in numerous states throughout the US, including California.During his time studying in Mississippi, Khabir began cultivating his passion for working with young people and was involved with Youth Group organizations for 10 years, for the latter part of his service he served as a Youth Director. His passion for cultivating spaces, tools, ability and opportunities to teach and share with our youth through the application of work and activity has become an integral part of Working Arts philosophy, work practices and Culture. During Khabir's time "Making Ideas Tangible" in California, he was a volunteer Welding Instructor at a major Art Institute program for the Youth, in the bay area. It is his intention that each and every project we build will also serve to support the development of "making" skills within the youth, equipping the young people with tangible skills to build our future.
Khabir has contributed a number of extraordinary structures in California, including holding in the poisonous reptiles at the new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, with the Innovative solution of the design and fabrication of stainless steel lids for the bespoke reptile and amphibian tanks.
Khabir always contributes to the environments that he has lived. During his 6 years In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Khabir added to the authenticity of the environment, refining proprietary patina techniques, as well as gaining an understanding of the minerals we use and the extreme elements they live within. Creating and building, public and private means of egress systems, as well as fine art pieces and much interactive hard art.
Khabir's most recent projects are in Denver's, Mile high City. Bespoke and exquisite uses of wood and metal fusions have been designed and used for bespoke hand railing for means of egress systems and further repurposed in the design and creation of an Elegant Industrial Modern furniture collection that includes the use of pure bronze structures, that can be viewed at the Denver Design District.
Ceri Jones Salahadyn
khabir has designed, built and installed what can only be described as an ordained, monumental 20ft Aluminum Water Sculpture - "The Shard" and most recently designed, built and installed a 17ft tall Astrological Sunshade Dome at Stapleton's newest school, Swigert McAuliffe International School. We have one task to complete this ground breaking piece of "Interactive Hard Art" and thats the Solar lighting system. Our aim is to light up the inside of the Dome with a solar lighting system that will shine its light through the constellations at night into the wider community. Helping to educate both the little ones and their parents about the depth of knowledge systems available to explore within the dome and demonstrate the power and opportunities that present themselves through the integration of solar and art.
Through the Working Art Ability Center Khabir is equipping the youth at DSST (Denver School of Science & Technology) to become technical lead mentor for the Robotics team- Brute Force! to compete in the forthcoming First Robotics National Competition. Khabir is teaching many young people through Working Art's apprenticeship program as well delighting in spontaneously choosing to work with many young people within our neighborhoods that he meets along the way, Making more skilled young people to "Making More Ideas Tangible".
Teaching the Art of Welding is spreading like wild fire as we teach groups, idividuals and business teams through our 'You Will Weld" class and our latest cutting edge Team Building concept.
To view more updates, please visit our news section.
Ceri is the CEO of Working Art, founding steward of The Whole Way, Co-creator of The Collaboratory and Working Art The Whole Way.
Ceri’s, entrepreneurial spirit, her experience and passionate belief in the possibilities that she has engaged within at the intersection of people and organizations, transforming to effect change, growth and evolution, supported by her determination to explore her own transformational, human potential, drove her to establish The Whole Way that provides a way to “Make Tangible Ways” to fully realize potential. Serving, Art – Industry – People – Business and in particular, supporting young ladies, women and businesses to realize their potential, by getting from where they are to where they want to be. Ceri is engaged in the Mission of "Making A Tangible Way" The Whole Way.
Simultaneously, Ceri is “Making Ideas Tangible” through Working Art, with and in support of husband, master builder, artist, entrepreneur, founder and Professor of Working Art, Khabir Salahadyn. As well as rediscovering her own love and abilities within the realms of Art, Design and the Tangible production thereof, Ceri is intersecting the World of Working Art to connect further possibilities for Working Art's presence within the foundations of our global environments. Creating space’s that inspire and serve our productive and tangible imaginations, our earth bound prosperity, our health and last but not least, our growth, development and evolution. Working Art is an extraordinary vehicle that delivers rudimentary universal information and truths. Working Art is “Making Ideas Tangible,” to explore the intersection of Art, Architecture and contemporary education methods.
As The Collaboratory continues to unfold, Ceri uses her navigation skills through new terrains to realize the potential within the infinite possibilities the environment provides. Most recently Khabir & Ceri have combined their expertise to create a cutting edge event of Working Art Team Building The Whole Way, where teams gain an understanding of the power in connectivity and receive the tools to harness a new awareness. We help them, to culminate a vision of themselves performing at their highest potential as they learn the art of welding. They are then armed and facilitated through a collective process to build a creative vision of themselves in tangible form, each performing at their highest potential. By each connecting at least one piece to make a connected, Working Art, team Sculpture, they get to fully engage in a tangible making process, that provides an individual and collective experience of “Making An Idea Tangible” from A>Z or if you like an experience and understanding of a Whole supply chain. “Making them a Tangible Way” The Whole Way. And, of course, they get to take their sculpture with them to offer an intense level of unfolding reflection, within their own performance environment.
Ceri was born in South Wales, United Kingdom. After leaving High School, Ceri studied, experienced and continues to cultivate her nature of a visionary integrator.
Ceri's first stop after high school was the design and making of Fancy dress costumes, which lead to further seamstress experience in the mass manufacturing markets of fashion and upholstery. In the transition period of relocating to England, she spent some time traveling and working in southern Europe before landing back in London to start a new career in Sales and Marketing within the Automotive Industry.
Ceri quickly grasped the dynamics of the global Automotive supply chain, moving from the head of a call center to, partnering in a small startup automotive supply and export business, where Ceri headed up the export business, that included expansive new development in Eastern European markets. Ceri's next role was head of Sales and Marketing for the UK's Market leader in Collision repair, following the acquisition of this business by one of the UK's largest privately held automotive and logistics businesses, The Unipart Group and a successful integration process, Ceri was appointed to lead the business as Director and General Manager. Ceri continued to collaboratively lead the process of rewiring the dynamics of the Collision repair market supply chain within the UK that became an effective strategy that influenced the market throughout Europe and the US.
In 2005, on behalf of The Unipart Group, Ceri was appointed to carry out an International assignment, in the US, as the CEO of a National, manufacturing and fabrication business within the Industrial heat exchange Industry. Ceri transformed the business culture, its management structure, footprint, policy's, leveraged the groups products and scale between international group businesses and lead initiatives for US accreditation's such as the OSHA’s prestigious SHARP award and Colorado’s Gold Level ELP (Environmental Leadership Program) Award. Through the intentional alignment and coexistence of the business vision, mission and values, guiding the attitude through the execution of all change programs the business was able to recombine the individuals DNA into a collective culture that nurtures a commitment to understanding the needs of their customers and sets out to serve those needs better than anyone else.
It is within this role that an advanced level of awareness of the Privilege and Responsibility of Leadership not only grew within Ceri but fueled her passion for further integration, empowerment and the perpetual system opportunities that cause and affect the results of our environments. Further to the successful rewiring of the business, Ceri's experience, passion and belief, drove her decision to seek an extended path throughout a broader landscape. Allowing her to collaborate, contribute and apply the potential and power of, the transformation opportunities she sees within Art – Industry – People – Business. In 2009 Ceri Co-created The Collaboratory with her husband and partner, Khabir Salahadyn.
In Denver’s Mile High City Ceri continues to contribute and grow her philanthropic work, through the sharing of her experience to business students at Denver (DU) and Colorado (CU) Universities as well as design students at Denver’s Metro College and further diverse students through Working Arts apprenticeship and mentoring programs. Ceri has also been known to cultivate other small business incubation opportunities she happens to see along the way.
Serving
Art - Industry - People - Business
Picture top Left: "The Shard" designed, engineered, built and installed in 2010 by Working Art for a private residence in Denver Colorado USA