“Dick Jobe puts the Machine Head in Machine Head.”

Clayton Reid
MMGY Worldwide

Dick Jobe has been using his hands to form metal for many many years. Before Machine Head, he specialized in Volvo vehicles and was known around town for his stellar work in the auto repairs & parts industry. Eventually his interests in moving parts & metalwork led him to seek out more artistic endeavors - collaborating with artists needing to fabricate large scale, durable, and thoughtfully-designed pieces.

In an article from 2000 in The Pitch KC, Dick says, “…just because a person isn’t trained in the classical arts doesn’t mean that he can’t be an artist at what he does,” and it is clear that he lives up to this belief. His fresh take from a mechanically-based background has brought innovation to the arts scene of Kansas City, and as a result his and Machine Head’s reputation grew exponentially. His warm demeanor and apt for artistic communication made him a favorite amongst artists needing any metalwork done.

In 1998, Machine Head was officially established in the crossroads district and it continues strong to this day under his guidance. The team he has assembled specifically for Machine Head is a unique ensemble of individuals, all balanced in their own way between the arts and more technical endeavors. Their shop continues to use the well-suited traditional metalworking tools, but has also found ways of developing cutting-edge computerized methods alongside those established processes.

“To me, art is attitude. It’s how you feel about your work.”

Dick Jobe