Elizabeth Ryland Mears is a full time, award winning, studio artist. Her material of choice is glass. Mears uses the lexicon of Nature images to describe her relationship to her inner and outer worlds, and her sculpture often combines glass with mixed media. Her work is represented by galleries across the United States and is included in numerous private, public and museum collections, as well as, many publications focused on contemporary art glass. “Flameworking,” written by Mears, was published in 2003 by LARK Books.

Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 12
Beginner ● Materials Fee: $20 ● Minimum Age: 15

Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.

This class is also available OnDemand.

Greg Shaffer spends his days surrounded by flying sparks and 2,500-degree heat. Owner of Three Springs Forge & Iron Works in Bristol, Virginia, Greg is part craftsman, part artist and 100 percent devoted to his time-honored trade.

Brian Anderson is a working blacksmith with 40 plus years' experience. He has a solid base in traditional smithing doing both historically based and contemporary forge work. Brian has taught and demonstrated widely and his work appears regularly in both blacksmithing and fine arts shows around the country. He demonstrates frequently at historic sites, trade fairs, and hammer-ins and teaches on a small scale.

Steven Kalb has been blacksmithing for over 15 years. He has studied blacksmithing under some of the best American blacksmiths, and taken classes at nationally recognized schools. Sharing the craft is important to Steven. He has completed terms as Program Chairman, Regional Coordinator, and Trustee for the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association. He also does demonstrations at his coal forge periodically at Koreshan State Park in Estero, Florida. Steven’s interest in blacksmithing began with traditional forging. Period cooking gear and traditional joinery were his passion for several years. Then his art took a more organic direction, where he continues to explore it to this day.

www.kalbironworks.com

Students will leave with all the basic skills necessary to fire up a forge on their own and will be qualified to rent the center’s forge for personal use.

Students are asked to bring their own safety glasses and to wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Aprons and gloves are optional.

Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 12
Beginner ● Materials Fee: $20 ● Minimum Age: 15

Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.
John Riddle grew up on a farm where his dad taught him the basics of sheet metal work as a teenager. He worked in the railroad industry as an adult, as a metal-worker, electrician, shop and maintenance worker, and finally rail car worker. As a result, he has been a blacksmith all his life, but never knew very much about it until around 2005 when he heard about the Old Dominion Blacksmith Association and became a regular member. He has learned much attending meetings and classes through the group and is excited to share his life-long trade with the next generation of blacksmiths.

Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 12
Beginner ● Materials Fee: $20 ● Minimum Age: 15

Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.

John Riddle grew up on a farm where his dad taught him the basics of sheet metal work as a teenager. He worked in the railroad industry as an adult, as a metal-worker, electrician, shop and maintenance worker, and finally rail car worker. As a result, he has been a blacksmith all his life, but never knew very much about it until around 2005 when he heard about the Old Dominion Blacksmith Association and became a regular member. He has learned much attending meetings and classes through the group and is excited to share his life-long trade with the next generation of blacksmiths.

Greg Shaffer spends his days surrounded by flying sparks and 2,500-degree heat. Owner of Three Springs Forge & Iron Works in Bristol, Virginia, Greg is part craftsman, part artist and 100 percent devoted to his time-honored trade.

Jessie Ward is a third generation farrier. Her love of art and admiration for tradition led her to embrace the methods handed down by her grandfather. Jessie works in a variety of media including stained glass, paper, sculptural iron work, and traditional smithing. She participates in international blacksmithing competitions and has received numerous awards in painting, stained glass and photography. Her work, mostly commissioned, can be found in museums, galleries, businesses and individual homes. She teaches regionally in Southwest Virginia.

Students will get acquainted with the oxy acetylene torch, saws, grinders, electric welders and the forge using a variety of new and used pipe, angle iron, and bar stock.

Students are asked to bring their own safety glasses and to wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Aprons and gloves are optional.

Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 6
Beginner ● Materials Fee: $20+ ● Minimum Age: 18

James Quinn was born between the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, in Greensboro NC, where he attended school… sometimes. In his mid twenties he developed an interest in sculpture and blacksmithing. Modern techniques seemed necessary to build tools and equipment and along the way they became standard in his shop and work. Making kinetic sculpture and forging have been his favorite pastimes, but he enjoys all areas of metal working and will try just about anything.

http://quinnmetalarts.com/