James Kenna
Ironworker
When Covid-19 hit in 2020, like many artists I turned to alternate income. As is the case of many odd jobs, my dad exposed me to the profession. Ironworkers are the tradesmen who erect the structural steel on major buildings, bridges, airports, and more. During the week you can catch me walking across iron beams many stories in the air, throwing metal deck, and bolting up skyscrapers!
Needless to say, I'm often inspired by the people I work with. They provide the seeds for many of my characters and settings. With many artistic bubbles, you get surrounded in the echo-chamber of your own thoughts and ideas. During one of the most tumultuous and uncertain political periods of my life, I feel very fortunate to have been a part of a community of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, skills, and opinions--to which I often challenged. I'm eternally grateful for my family who walks the sky.
I recently "hung up" my hardhat, and during the day have shifted to different work to make more room for auditions, writing, and on-set work. I didn't capture nearly enough photos and videos, but here's a snippet of some of my work up in the air.