Finding a new home base, Rex now makes unique copper pieces all season long at Silver Dollar City.

A Craftsman In The Making
Morton was first introduced to coppersmithing by his uncle who used copper to restore antiques. "When I got back from Vietnam, my uncle wrote a letter encouraging me to get into that business," Rex said. But he was determined to become a painter, and in 1972, he began attending college on the GI Bill, with plans to fulfill that dream. While there, he took a metal sculpture class, and never painted again – except with the torch.   

Deciding to expand the Festival of American Music and Crafts in 1979, Silver Dollar City dispatched representatives to seek out master artisans from across the nation. They first met Rex at the American Craft Event in Rhinebeck, NY. When invited to demonstrate at the festival he was reluctant, asking, "Why do I want to come to Missouri?" But once he did, he loved it.    

The Silver Dollar City Years
Rex began demonstrating at Silver Dollar City’s Festival of American Music & Crafts off and on in 1980. He began looking forward to the festival every fall because, "It was the only festival where I could demonstrate, and I always learn so much from other demonstrating craftsmen. You take a little from this person and a little from that person, add it together with what you know, and all of the sudden you're doing something totally different." In addition to all the creativity he found during the festival, it’s also where he met his wife Marsha, who was then working at Silver Dollar City.

Rex, along with Marsha who also designs and creates copper pieces, opened Mission Metal at Silver Dollar City in 2006 where he now demonstrates all season long. In addition to functional items such as measuring spoons, bird feeders and his signature moon shaped oil lamp, he’s beginning to spend more time creating decorative artwork. Fishermen appreciate the lifelike sculptures of crappie in a natural setting, but his current best seller is a new item called "Janet’s Weave." It’s also his favorite item to make because "it always surprises me. I can plan the weave width, but each piece colors differently, and when I weave it together it takes on a life of its own. Then when I apply the clear finish coat, the colors change again."

Interesting Extras
Rex and Marsha own and operate the Crow’s Nest Resort in Branson. Rex’s favorite vacation destination is Central America, where he accompanies groups of teens on mission trips to build homes and complete other work projects. Rex also plays acoustic, electric and bass guitar. His dream is to one day play bass guitar for Bob Dylan.