Monday, June 28, 2010

Paul Allen

Dorset, England

www.artinmetal.co.uk




Growing up in rural Dorset, Paul Allen considered
training to become a silversmith in Birmingham. But the lure
of the countryside led him to take up a forgework apprenticeship
in blacksmithing at Cerne Abbas in Dorset – the start
of a fascinating career in metal.


Eager to share his knowledge and enthusiasm, Paul left Cerne
Abbas at the age of 26. He took on the challenge of using
his skills and talent to train young blacksmiths all over
England for the Council of Small Industries in Rural Areas.
His flair for design led to major projects being awarded to
the student apprentices. These included a seat for the Ironwork
Gallery in the V & A Museum and an ornate archway for
the Zachary Gardens in London, commissioned by the Goldsmiths
Company and incorporating the London Assay mark.


National UK Champion Blacksmith in 1994, Paul is a certificated
Licentiate teacher and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company
of Blacksmiths, as well as a Licentiate of the City &
Guilds Institute. He is still actively involved in teaching
as a part-time tutor at the National School of Blacksmithing
in Hereford and is well known all over the country.


At home in his studio at Motcombe Forge Paul specialises in
producing original designs for interiors. Working in iron
and other metals he uses only pure forgework techniques. The
materials are chosen to enable delicate designs to be worked
by hand; creating natural flow and balance within the practical
function. From sweeping sinuous lines and personification
of plant forms through to functional straight lines, his designs
are often inspired and influenced by natural shape and forms.
Commissions range from candlesticks to coffee tables and table
lamps, creating quality style essentials which never go out
of fashion.


(taken from Paul's Web site)










Table Lamp

" Circular base with central column that branches out to support
the decorative shade, which incorporates honeysuckle flowers and stained
glass. Size 55cm high x 37cm wide. Made from mild steel with a lacquered
finish.

...The shade is made using repoussé techniques to form the flower
features and hand chasing to add decoration. The central column and decorative
infills that hold the glass are hand forged. "





Bench - V & A Museum, Ironwork Gallery

"History was made at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington
when visitors were invited to sit on one of the exhibits.

... The bench seat has a coat of arms combining the logos of the V &
A and The Ironmongers Company who provided the funding. Situated in the
Ironwork Gallery the bench commemorates the opening of the gallery’s
eastern wing in 1998. "




"Vortex in Fire" Candelabrum

A pair of highly polished candelabrum with three outer and one central
candleholder with removable sconces. Hand made and formed in stainless
steel using lead block, stake work and repoussé techniques. Size
460mm high x 380mm wide.



Paul's web site features a gallery
of past work and details on the historic Motcombe Forge ��

Friday, May 14, 2010

Demonstrator Profile - Sandra Dunn

Sandra Dunn
Kitchener, Ontario
www.twosmiths.ca


" Blacksmith Sandra Dunn studied Fine Arts at the University of Waterloo and began blacksmithing in 1996. Incorporating traditional blacksmithing techniques such as forge welding, riveting and mortise and tenon joinery, her work reflects a deep interest in the gestures recorded by material that has been worked by hand."

Full time blacksmith since the mid 1990's, Sandra operates Two Smiths, a business that designs and builds architectural features in a variety of metals and styles. From restoration work to contemporary sculpture,projects often involve collaboration with architects, artists and other manufactures and include a stainless steel bicycle powered wind instrument for Open Ears Festival, bronze clad Art Deco entrance doors for the Registry Theatre, a curved copper wall in a Manhatten loft and a Baroque iron railing in Bornholme, ON.
Sandra has been a featured demonstrator at earlier CanIRON's : Ness Creek, Saskatchewan (2009) and Hamilton, Ontario (2005)


Interior Staircase railing


Detail of Forged Railing


Gate Latch

Sandra's web site includes a small portfolio and information about courses in metalsmithing.

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

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Event Flier ? - Historic Strikers

The CanIRON team is putting together a simple 4 x 9 inch 'rack card' styled handout to help remind people about CanIRON 8 and get them the basic facts about the event. Working with our graphic designer, Barbara Pearn of ColourPix, four (very fast - very rough!!) concepts are being considered. Note that the specific image shown here may not be the one chosen, its more just to express the idea.
Second thing is that the logo seen on these is NOT the final version which Barb is also designing for us!


Number 4 - the Stikers:
What this image does is echo the slogan 'Forging Friendships', as well as reflecting the historic nature of the blacksmith's occupation.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Event Flier ? - Demonstrators


The CanIRON team is putting together a simple 4 x 9 inch 'rack card' styled handout to help remind people about CanIRON 8 and get them the basic facts about the event. Working with our graphic designer, Barbara Pearn of ColourPix, four (very fast - very rough!!) concepts are being considered. Note that the specific image shown here may not be the one chosen, its more just to express the idea.
Second thing is that the logo seen on these is NOT the final version which Barb is also designing for us!


This version : the DEMONSTRATORS
The work seen here is Jake Powning, Brian Russell & Paul Allen. The intent is to pick a number of dramatic images showing work from our demonstrators, which also will convey the range of work being presented at CanIRON 8