Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Information Card!

This is the front side of the information card that is being produced by us by Barbara Pearn of ColourPix


This is only a low resolution proof image, but it will give you some idea of what the finished product will look like. The CanIRON 8 team will have cards on hand starting at the May 8 OABA meeting, with the intent of being able to distribute a good number at the upcoming ABANA conference later in that month.

A bit of trivia:

The image of the forge weld was shot by Neil Peterson. Neil is the head of the DARC Iron Smelting demonstration team, a special event on Friday of the conference. The smith involved is Darrell Markewitz (one of the fools who kicked off this whole thing!) What is being welded is actually an iron bloom, made in an earlier experimental smelt, using Viking Age methods.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Work Team Leaders

Its a dirty job, but SOMEONE has to do it...


One of the initial things talked about for CanIRON was work load up to, and at, the event. There was an attempt to break down the work into a small number of major areas. In some cases these 'team leaders' will need to do considerable work before the event. For others there will be considerably more labour required over the week of the event itself. In most cases each will need to recruit sub team leaders and workers - closer to the event date.
This is the initial list we came up with - and the people who have said they would assume the tasks:

Site Manager - Wolfgang Bleckert
Demonstrator Co-Ordinator - Darrell Markewitz
Volunteers Co-Ordinator - Dan Linkenheld
Registration & Financial - Shirley Young / Karin Bleckert
Gallery - Kelly Probyn-Smith
Trouble Shooter - Mick Smith

Promotion - SLOT OPEN
Grants & Sponsors - SLOT OPEN
Equipment - SLOT OPEN

Site Manager will include all the logistics of supporting the event. Garbage, security, set up & tear down, all the fun stuff. This works closely with Volunteers, which is where the labour is coming from. (Wolfgang got 'volunteered' for this by Karin by the way.)

Demonstrator Co-Ordinator is also known as 'head animal wrangler'. This will involve all the aspects of getting the demonstrators fed, housed, equipped as required. (Darrell took this primarily because he knows the larger number of the demonstrators personally)

Volunteers Co-Ordinator will get those work shift lists made and filled out. At the event will be responsible for getting bodies to the work stations as scheduled. Expect a certain level of confusion over the conference! (why its separated from Site Manager).

Registration was the task Shirley volunteered for. She has a clear idea how she wants to structure this. Karin, as current OABA treasurer, will assist on the Financial end of this area.

Gallery Kelly is on this area, working up a draft proposal on her concepts. This may include a longer term juried exhibit, likely with a web component. There is likely to be direct involvement in the program design here.


People with skills, experience and TIME are sought for:

Promotions - will include media contacts, advertising, information to affiliated organizations. There is likely to be some integration required with Sponsors.

Grants & Sponsors - ideally this will be someone with past experience navigating the mine field of Government Grants. Most important may be contacting corporate level for donations of goods and services. Even small scale local business may be able to assist CanIRON - and every little bit helps out. (Free coffee from Tims?)

Equipment - is a large and keystone responsibility. It would include forges, tools, AV. In many cases this would have a construction phase well before the event. Key will be getting a requirements list, then canvasing the general membership for some idea what can be loaned.


If you are interested in any of these specific positions, or just helping out with CanIRON8 generally:
Please contact Darrell via e-mail (caniron@warehamforge.ca).

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Kelly Smyth - Demonstrator Profile

Kelly Smyth
ChaddsFord, Pennsylvania
web profile



With nearly all experience in blacksmith shops using traditional
tools and techniques (often without electricity), Kelly is convinced it is the easiest way to make accurate copies of hardware for either newly constructed historic
ships or buildings.
Smyth spent five years in a blacksmith’s costume at Colonial Williamsburg before connecting with shipbuilder Allen C. Rawl and his Kalmer Nyckel. She’s also participated in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and consulted with the Smithsonian to review hardware recovered from Cleopatra’s Barge. Built in Salem, Mass., in 1816, it was owned by the king of Hawaii when it sank in 1824.
Past projects include all the hand forged hardware for the new version of Discovery (1607) at Jamestown Settlement in Virginia and the John Smith 400 Shallop, an eighteenth century topsail schooner, originally constructed in Chestertown on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Dry land work has included hardware for the new Print House (1672) at Historic St. Mary’s City on Maryland’s western shore, both colonial capitols in the seventeenth century as well as private commissions.


Forge welding heavy ship's fittings (Image by Chris Queeney)


18th Century Door Latch
Private Commission, Esssex County VA


Chain Plates for the Discovery, Jamestown Settlement

Kelly does not currently support a web site