Steven W. Dykstra has been associated with Lee Badger and his business as an artist-blacksmith since 1988. He is a shop assistant and Anvil Works’ office manager and director of marketing and communications. Steve has been directing his time and attention to Anvil Works’ operations since 2003, after a twenty-five year career in the museum and arts professions.
Steve was an editor of his high school and college newspapers and recieved a degree in psychology before turning to the arts professions in the late 1970's. In the 80's, he trained and worked as a conservator of paintings in Denver, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.
He became specialized in fine arts care and management, earned a Master’s Degree and worked with art collections and exhibitions at American University, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and the Art in Embassies Program of the U.S. Department of State. Steve was a member of the American Association of Museums Registrar’s Committee and a Professional Associate of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
After many years working weekdays in Washington, DC and spending weekends in West Virginia, Steve moved to Hedgesville full time in 2003.
Steve uses his fine art management skills to track Anvil Works’ consignments, commissions and gallery contacts. He is also the studio’s information and communications technologist managing photography, digital images, public relations, promotional materials, social media and web site content.
Steve prepares and manages all of Anvil Works' applications for grant funding and exhibition opportunities. In 2007 Anvil Works recieved a Work Force Training Grant from the West Virginia Small Business Development Office for Steve's training as webmaster and content editor of Anvilworks.net. In 2008 and again in 2014, Anvil Works acquired specialized equipment with funds granted by the National Endowment for the Arts and the W.Va. Division of Culture & History, sponsored by the WV Commission on the Arts.