I am trying to decide if there is enough interest in a metal arts show in the central Arkansas area. It would be a juried show and there are numerous locations in the area that could host a small to VERY large event.

Someone suggested that we should post some pictures of our own workshop. Well here's mine and belivce it or not, all this stuff is in an 18' x 20' space. It's been OK for small projects but I will have to move soon!

I recently finished my second blacksmithing seminar in Peru and wanted to share with you a video and photo album showing footage from the various workshops in Huancayo, Lima, and Piura. The video is also an educational video for beginning blacksmiths. It explains the processes I used to make the Nazca Lines Book Ends.

The blacksmithing courses started last week with a 3-day workshop in Huancayo, Peru. I thought I would post a couple of pictures of the first city I will be touring to give these workshops. When I first arrived to Lima, I spent three days with the blacksmithing crew of Aceros Arequipa making hot and cold chisels including removable steel handles. This was quite a task since we had to forge 34 chisels made of 1-1/2" high carbon steel all by hand. No power hammers! This task did help me train the smiths on how to effectively buddy forge with large sledge hammers. They also learned the process of heat treating and hardening the tools steel using magnets for temperature control of the hardening process.

I was invited to go to a student exhibition last Friday for a workshop which our very own Kimberli Matin gave last semester via the Chatham County Community College continuing education courses. It was an inspiring event filled with enthusiastic metal artists. The class included students from 18 to 80 years of age. Everyone at this exhibition was bubbling with excitement over the artwork which they had produced of the seven week course.

Much of the credit for success of this course has to be given to Kimberli. She is beaming with creativity! Kimberli has a way of getting people to "think outside the box." Day long visits to the scrap yard, and seeing alternative forms with a little juxtaposition can turn old lawn mower blades into a beautiful unique rustic lamp.