We’re exiting October with so much to report on. It was the first month in the new space and it was aaaammmmmaaazing!!! The shop is well organized and well equipped for a variety of classes, least of which is welding. Outfitting the space with that type of equipment was no small order, but it was well worth all the effort and after teaching blacksmithing classes locally for the past 10 years I am very excited to increase the shop’s offerings!
There are very few places where people can learn this skill outside of a certificate program. As someone who came into the metalworking field through the somewhat non traditional path of an artist, I really understand the interest and the need for this type of access. Now that we have it, the class projects can seamlessly move between the processes of forging and welding. That type of relationship brings loads of new possibilities for workshops! Both sculptural and structural!
Last month’s Scrap Metal Monster class highlighted the use of different pre-existing shapes to create forms (monsters in this case!) using MIG welding techniques. We were also able to spend a few Friday nights by the forge working on Skeleton themed Kubotans and Candy Bowls. I especially enjoy the bowl class because it focuses on dishing sheet metal, which isn’t something we get a chance to incorporate into classes very often. The big build out class of the month was the Giant Gator Head workshop. An energized mix of forging and welding over the course of two days. This class was a huge success (despite going a bit long on the second day haha! Big thanks to my group that day for all their enthusiasm and patience). I’ll have this one up on the December calendar, so keep your eye out for it. The heads are enormous and really look amazing. And big thanks go to all the students who joined us this last month and made the new shop feel appreciated and functional!!
I’m looking forward to what comes next! Click over to the schedule for an up to date look at what we’ve got planned.
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