Workshop with Clark & Knott

TERRENCE CLARK AND REBECCA KNOTT: MASTERCLASS

Blacksmiths, Terrence Clark and Rebecca Knott from the UK will be giving a
Masterclass at Haliburton School of Art and Design.

DATE: Saturday May 14 - Sunday May 15
COST: $380.00
TO REGISTER: Call Haliburton College of Art and Design
1 866 353 6464 (press 3 for Haliburton Campus)

Terrence and Rebecca will lead participants through a series of traditional forging
techniques: heeled tenon joinery, hot chiseling and riveting to create a
collaboratively forged contemporary sculpture. As part of the development of this
sculpture each student will also design and forge a stamp that, in combination
with all of the others, will be used to create a larger visual image in the surface of
forged steel plates.
The aim of this collaborative master class is to encourage smiths to change their
current approach to their work and perhaps adopt new ways of working.
Opening up new neurological pathways in the mind, help to spark ideas for future
projects. All participants should bring along their own ‘makers mark’ as well so
everybody can sign the piece when it’s finished.
The class is designed to accommodate both skilled and less skilled smiths. Don’t
miss out on this opportunity to meet and work with two highly skilled and
fabulously talented blacksmiths.

Terrence Clark
Over the past 40 years Terrence has won many prestigious prizes and
commissions in the UK. He uses traditional techniques but with contemporary
designs and his commissions vary in size from large gates to small pieces of
jewelry. He has also completed several large restoration projects over the years.
Terrence Clark was Editor of "British Blacksmith" magazine from 1980 to 1984
and again from 1999 to 2008 when it was re-named Artist Blacksmith
magazine. He has demonstrated and exhibited his work internationally on
numerous occasions. In 1991 he was Forge master at the First International
"Forge In" in Ireland and has taught Master Classes in the USA in 2002 and with
Peter Parkinson in 2010 and 2011. He has Freedom of the City of London, is a
Worshipful Company of Blacksmith Liveryman and has been awarded a Silver
medal by the Worshipful Company. Terrence is recognized as one of the leading
smiths in Europe.
www.artsmith.co.uk/

Rebecca Knott
Rebecca was three when she first held a hammer: a hunger for making and
exploring the possibilities of metal began. Rebecca obtained a mixed media art
diploma at UCA in Farnham, studied fine art at Southampton Solvent University.
Working alongside her father, Terrence Clark and other master smiths, Rebecca
was fortunate to work on some magnificent jobs big and small. Doing this she
learned the skills that gave her the foundation and the confidence to start up on
her own. Since 2007 Rebecca has continued to create stunning work, offering
unique handmade objects to customers around the globe.
www.rebeccaknott-blacksmith.co.uk/home.html


Terrence Clark is one of the primary organizers of the Ypres 2016 memorial project taking place in Belgium early September. I was passed the information about this class by Sandra Dunn, who is the Canadian master smith undertaking one of the large panels for the memorial project. (I have known Sandra for years)  
I personally will not be able to attend this workshop (I will be at the International Congress for Medieval Studies at Kalamzoo MI that week.)
Given the quality of work exhibited by both Terrence and Rebecca, I do recommend this workshop, especially mid level to advanced artisan smiths.

Maybe NOT so fast - ESP 2016

I have spent most of the last month on either teaching or organization.
The organization part is for a number of upcoming demonstration / research projects:
- Attending the SCA 50th event, which will include a full historic equipment iron smelt.
- DARC at Upper Canada Village as part of their Medieval Faire
- OAC grant trip to the Scottish Sculpture Workshop (September - October)
- Ypres 2016 event (Belgium) early September
- Polish Iron Smelting Symposium, near Warsaw, early September

What I have been attempting to fit in this month is work on the actual object for the Elora Sculpture Project 2016.

Due for installation next weekend...

original design rough

Main frame welded

The raw scale here may end up defeating me.
The main barrel shape you see has has the uprights forged to shape and has been welded up. The missing two side pieces will be held in place with hinges with removable hinges. This to allow for installation (bolts through the bottom plate).
Right now the raw weight is roughly 140 lbs. The barrel shape is about 3 feet at widest and about 4 1/2 feet tall.

To complete just the barrel form, I next need to cut, fit and weld 1 x 1 square x 1/8 wire grind material. This fills the gaps you can see in the form.

Next will be making the upper turbine. This will be made from 20 gauge stainless steel. This should not add a lot of extra weight. My intent is to make this element so that it is removable, to fit down on the central shaft and bolt to place.

Oh yea - there is supposed to be a series of internal mechanisms that move and produce tones. Something like a mechanical wind chime. I have some vague concepts...

Did I mention I'm loosing today to a customer shop visit (previous commission).
And one day filming here for the new 'Hard Can it Be' TV series?


Just in case you are wondering why there has not been much recent material posted here.

Sudden Openning!

I have just had a previously booked student cancel out of next weekend's Introduction to Blacksmithing program:

April 8 / 9 / 10

Details see : http://www.warehamforge.ca/TRAINING/course.html

If anyone can quickly make the arrangements, this would jump you forward in terms of available weekends. (Right now I am booking July and August dates)

From the course description above you can make the needed deposit and registration.