Project of the Month: Growing A Metal Tree


From buildings to bridges, metal is often used to create elaborate man-made structures and architectural feats. But in the hands of artists like Ryan Longo, metal can be used to create something a little more natural.

“Reactor” is a 15 foot tall, curvy, tree made of steel sheet metal, rods and mesh designed and built by Ryan and a small team in Toronto, with some help from Metal Supermarkets Etobicoke. The LED lights that line the interior of the structure reflect off the painted purple / green chrome finish. Known for several party-deco pieces, Ryan’s goal in creating Reactor was to bring people together in a space for reflection.

Many of Ryan’s designs blend a natural aesthetic with industrial materials; Reactor is no different. One of the largest projects Ryan has undertaken, he began designing Reactor in late 2015, and it was finally unveiled at Burning Man in August 2016. Ryan estimated that the cost of the project would be about $10,000, but seeing the final project lit up under the night sky certainly makes it worth it.

metal supermarkets customer project

metal supermarkets customer project

metal supermarkets customer project

metal supermarkets customer project


Metal Supermarkets

Metal Supermarkets is the world’s largest small-quantity metal supplier with over 100 brick-and-mortar stores across the US, Canada, and United Kingdom. We are metal experts and have been providing quality customer service and products since 1985.

At Metal Supermarkets, we supply a wide range of metals for a variety of applications. Our stock includes: mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, tool steel, alloy steel, brass, bronze and copper.

We stock a wide range of shapes including: bars, tubes, sheets, plates and more. And we can cut metal to your exact specifications.

Visit one of our 100+ locations across North America today.

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