Dedicated to Francis Whitaker, 1906-1999
2008 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
BLACKSMITHING CONFERENCE XVIII
August 6-10, 2008 Carbondale Colorado
DEMONSTRATORS
It
is a pleasure to introduce our demonstrators, all masters of their craft. Each will give a three and three-quarter-hour
session with a break and a one and three-quarter hour session and will be
available in the evenings during Open Forge.
Toby Hickman
If
Francis ever told you about the young smith who in 1977 followed him into the
bathroom with questions, well, that was me. I opened Waylan Smithy four years
before I met Francis. I have been forging ever since.
Waylan
Smithy grew from “one hippy in a chicken barn” to an operation grossing
$450,000 for each of the last 8 years of my ownership. The shop employed from
four to seven smiths, and I became a not-very-good manager. We forged light
frames for five different lighting companies, and worked on commercial
interiors, mainly for restaurants and residential commissions.
In
June of 2002 I sold Waylan Smithy to T.J. Maronne and in 2003 moved three hours
north to the Mendocino coast village of Westport. Near my home there I opened
Lost Coast Forge, where I am a gentleman smith working at a dignified pace. And
now I enjoy forging again. I come
to show you some of what I have learned in 35 years at the forge.
Demonstration
topic: power hammer techniques.
Brent Bailey
Blacksmith, metalworker, artist, gypsy, what am I?
It took quite some time to answer that question. But I can say,
without any doubt, I am under the magical spell of iron. About nine years
ago, I took a piece of steel from the fire to the anvil and began to shape my
life. The heat, the fire, the intoxicating smell of coal smoke, the sound
of steel being forged as it seems to echo for miles. Blacksmithing is a
lifestyle, a philosophy, a teacher, and a commitment for me. I am a
student of the craft, fascinated, compiling knowledge and skills
that I use to stand at the anvil.
Demonstration
topic: traditional hand
work at the anvil as well as a focus on tool making.
Mike Bondi
Traveling
around the world in 1976, I became fascinated with the art of blacksmithing
while visiting my brother at the Simone Bennetton studio in Treviso, Italy. The
wide range of ironwork styles being produced there opened up a plethora of
ideas and emotions for me. The textures, quality of workmanship, as well as the
possibilities of taking an ancient craft and transposing its techniques into
modern forms, were very exciting. On returning to the United States, my
brother, Stephen Bondi, and I opened our first blacksmithing shop in Berkley,
California.
When
Stephen and I started our business, we began working with architects who were
looking for artistic, high quality, traditional and non-traditional ironwork.
These collaborations proved to be the beginning of a successful partnership
that secured our position in the world of decorative, architectural, and fine
art wrought ironwork. During this period we centered on the heavy forging of
steel and the use of its plasticity to model the forms much like clay.
When
I started my own architectural design shop, I began developing more
non-traditional work within the ironwork genre. I was drawn to the European Art
Deco and Arts and Crafts movements and began to explore the use of textured
material in contrast to smooth surfaces.
Demonstration
topic: power hammer,
with a focus on forging bronze and aluminum
Corky Storer
Met
Francis Whitaker in 1979, in Astoria, Oregon, at the first Northwest Blacksmith
Association Conference. After meeting Francis Whitaker, I attended every
workshop and conference within my grasp where Francis was demonstrating or
teaching. Francis invited me to attend the First Yellin Memorial Workshop in
Philadelphia, PA in 1983. Attended workshops addressing many facets of the
blacksmith craft from heavy hammer workshops with Clifton Ralph to forging
Damascus with Phil Baldwin. I also had the privilege to work with Tom Joyce in
his early shop (chicken coop) in Santa Fe, NM. Working with these masters young
and old, I was totally dedicated to learning all I could about this craft that
I fell in love with and even today after all these years, I am even more
passionate about forging steel.
Demonstration topic: an unusual approach to repoussé using air tools.
ABOUT THE WHITAKER
BLACKSMITH SCHOOL
The
MOUNTAIN SMITHS CONFERENCE GALLERY
Mountain Smiths Conference Gallery is for displaying blacksmiths’ works. All conference participants are encouraged to bring one or more pieces to show. Smiths of all skill levels are encouraged to exhibit. Please label all items with your name, and a brief description of the piece. If the piece is for sale please list the price and if not for sale please mark “NFS”. RMS requests a donation of 10% of all sales. RMS is not able to provide any shipping or receiving services for gallery items. In addition to the general gallery there will be a special gallery area for ‘New Smiths.’ See details in Forge Facts.
SILENT AUCTION and IRON-IN-THE-HAT
Everyone is
encouraged to contribute blacksmithing works, tools, books and other items of
interest to blacksmiths.
Auction
pieces will be on display during conference daylight hours and occasionally in
the evening. Bid on an item by writing your name and offer on the item’s bid
sheet. Minimum bids and increments will be set for each auction item. Auction
items will be sold to the highest proper bidder. Bidding will close at 5:30pm
Saturday evening. All winning bids are to be paid for and picked up at that
time.
Iron-in-the-Hat
is a drawing for items donated and tickets will be sold during the
conference. Drawing will be held just
before the silent auction.
Proceeds of
the gallery, silent auction and Iron-in-the-Hat will benefit Rocky Mountain
Smiths and other blacksmithing organizations as determined by the RMS Board.
FORGING COMPETITION –
“TBD”
Kamber
will be taking charge for this event and is eager to see the sparks flying! A
prize will be awarded.
This
forging event will be announced at the start of the conference, just to keep
anyone from “practicing” ahead of time!
With this event we hope to encourage everyone, at every level of
smithing to participate. There will be a time limit so all get a chance to
play!
CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE
Wednesday
check-in starts 1:00 P.M., dinner from 5:30 – 6:30
|
Time |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
|
7:00
– 8:00 |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast
(make
your sack lunch) |
|
8:00
– 9:45 |
Corky
Storer |
Toby
Hickman |
Mike
Bondi |
Open
Forge / cleanup by all participants |
|
10:00-
11:45 |
Corky
Storer |
Brent
Bailey |
||
|
12:00–
1:00 |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Sack
Lunch |
|
1:15
– 5:00 |
Brent
Bailey |
Mike
Bondi |
Toby
Hickman (at
Will Perry shop) |
Time to Git! |
|
(at
Will Perry shop) |
|
|||
|
5:00
– 6:00 |
|
Ice
Breaker Party (at
Will Perry shop) |
5:15
Iron-In-the-Hat 5:30
Silent Auction closes |
|
|
5:30
-- 6:30 |
Dinner |
6:00
– 7:00 Dinner |
6:00
BBQ |
|
|
7:00
– 8:30 |
Forging
competition |
7:15
– 8:00 Slide
Show |
7:30
– 8:30 Membership
Meeting |
|
|
8:30–
10:00 |
Open
Forge |
8:00
Open Forge |
Open
Forge |
|
Notes about the 2008 Rocky Mountain Blacksmithing Conference
·
Conference check in will begin at 1:00 pm on Wednesday,
August 6 and continue through August 7.
·
Registration fee includes RMS membership thru next year
(September 2009).
·
Registration confirmations will be sent only if email
address or SASE is provided.
·
Camping site is located near the school grounds,
Port-a-potties will be provided.
·
Those registered as participants will be given priority at
the forging demonstrations.
·
Eye protection is required in the forging areas. Ear
protection is strongly recommended.
·
Meals are available only if prepaid. You will not be able to
pay at the door.
·
NO SMOKING. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the CRMS
campus.
·
Special gallery show: "NEW SMITHS", See Forge
Facts for details. All are invited to exhibit.
·
Tailgate tool sellers and blacksmith equipment vendors are
encouraged. A Silent Auction donation is
requested.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Camping, there will
be no camping allowed on the school grounds.
There will be space available off campus for those who wish to
camp. There are also local campgrounds
in the area.
Motels, hotels, bed
and breakfasts and camping facilities are located within a 15-mile radius of
·
Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 427, Carbondale, CO
81623 (970) 963-1890
·
Glenwood Springs Chamber of Commerce,
·
Basalt Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 514, Basalt, CO
81621 (970) 927-4031
·
Aspen Resort Association, 303 East Main Street, Aspen, CO
81611 (970) 925-1940
ABOUT
THE AREA:
GETTING TO CARBONDALE
By
Car:
By
Bus: Greyhound provides service to Glenwood Springs. Roaring Fork Transit
Authority provides hourly service to
By
Train: Passenger train service is available to Glenwood Springs via Amtrak
(passenger service, 1-800-872-7245) with daily stops both east and
westbound.
By
Air:
Questions or problems? Contact:
Conference
Registrar: John or Janet Switzer, P.O. Box 4, Beulah, CO 81023
Home
- (719) 485-2327, cell – (303) 589-1767, email: switz@mindspring.com