RMS Conference - Rocky Mountain Smiths

Dedicated to Francis Whitaker, 1906-1999
2015 ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLACKSMITHING CONFERENCE XXV
August 5—August 9, 2015 Carbondale Colorado
Rocky Mountain Smiths is pleased to announce the Rocky Mountain Blacksmithing Conference XXIV, held at the Francis
Whitaker Blacksmith School on the campus of the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colorado. Check-in
begins Wednesday, August 5 at 1:00 P.M., with dinner at 5:30. Demonstrations begin Thursday, August 6, at 8:00 A.M. and
run through Saturday, August 8. Featured are demonstrations by well-known smiths, hands on forging clinics, a forging
competition, a gallery and silent auction. The conference promises to be a sharing and inspirational experience, and we
invite you to participate. Lodging and meals are available at the conference site and motels and camping are nearby. The
Carbondale area boasts some of the finest summer activities in the state. There’s ample time to socialize and enjoy the
Colorado summer. Come early and stay late!
ABOUT THE WHITAKER BLACKSMITH SCHOOL
The Francis Whitaker Blacksmith School was established in 1989 following Francis’s closing of the Mountain Forge in Aspen.
The school is an excellent teaching facility. There are six forges, set in pairs under common hoods, located in the center of
the shop. Each is fully equipped with the necessary hand tools and post vise. Work tables, layout table and other equipment
line the perimeter of the large and well-lit shop. Specialized jigs, fixtures and study pieces hang on the walls. Evening open
forging sessions will be held at which you may practice what you have learned.
DEMONSTRATORS
It is a pleasure to introduce our demonstrators, all masters of their craft. On the following pages you will find brief bios of
this year’s four demonstrators. Steve Fontanini, Steve Williamson, Dan McNeil and Gordon Stonington. A group project will
also be done. The demonstrators will be available in the evenings during Open Forge.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Colorado Rocky Mountain School will provide reasonably priced lodging in double occupancy, shared bath, dorm style
rooms for the evenings of August 5, 6, 7 & 8 and ten meals beginning with dinner on Wednesday the 5th through breakfast
and sack lunch on Sunday August 9tht. The cost is $260 per person, double occupancy. There are limited rooms available
and they are given out on a first come first serve basis. Pre-registration and pre-payment is strongly encouraged. Facilities
can accommodate couples, families and singles. Meals for persons with other accommodations are $130 for the 10 meals
provided, or $35 for 3 breakfasts, or 3 lunches, and $40 for 3 dinners only. Again, it is strongly encouraged that you preregister and prepay for meals. All registrants are invited to the Saturday night BBQ - it’s included in your registration fee.
Camping: there will be no camping or sleeping in cars or RVs allowed on the school grounds. Primitive camping available
4 miles from CRMS at Will Perry’s shop. $20 each to help pay for porta-potty, no other facilities. Pre-registration only,
limited to ten campers. There are local camp grounds in the area. The BrB Crystal River Campground is recommended.
Clean, with good bathrooms and hot running showers, fire rings right on the Crystal River, it's one of the best bets in the
area, only seven miles from the conference. They have cabins and RV & tent sites. It's quite popular so advanced
reservations are highly recommended (970-963-2341).Please visit their web site at www.cabinscolorado.com.
Motels: hotels, bed and breakfasts and camping facilities are located within a 15-mile radius of Carbondale.
GETTING TO CARBONDALE
By Car: Carbondale is approximately 3½ hours (172 miles) from Denver via I-70. Aspen and Vail are each an hour’s drive
away. Grand Junction is 1-½ hours (89 miles) via 1-70. From Denver, take 1-70 west to Glenwood Springs, Exit 116. Take
Highway 82 south approximately 13 miles to Highway 133. Turn right onto Highway 133 to Carbondale and continue to
Main St. (First traffic light) Turn right onto Main St. and continue as the road bears to right and becomes 106 Rd. Continue
on the road until you reach the Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Turn right on Whitaker Road. Registration will be at the
blacksmith shop.
By Bus: Greyhound provides service to Glenwood Springs. Roaring Fork Transit Authority provides hourly service to
Carbondale from Glenwood Springs and from the Aspen airport. www.rfta.com
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: Denver International Airport, Sardy Field in Aspen, Grand Junction’s Walker Field, The Avon/Eagle airport.
Conference Registration or Conference Registration Questions/Problems Contact:
John and Janet Switzer
P.O. Box 4, Beulah, CO 81023-0004
Phone: 719 -485-2327
Cell Phone: 303-589-1767
e-mail: [email protected]
Pre-registration is recommended. Confirmation will be sent only if a legible email
address or SASE is provided.
Everyone attending the conference, including spouses, must sign and submit the attached
liability waiver. Parent or guardian must sign for each minor. Make copies of waiver form
if necessary.
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.’
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 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
The forging competition always produces something VERY interesting! New smiths and old are encouraged to participate.
It's very light hearted and a lot of fun. The forging competition takes place after dinner on Thursday evening.
VENDERS and TAILGATERS
If you are interested in being a vendor (i.e.: setting up inside the gallery with a table, etc., please contact RMS President
Scott Kertschmer for availability. Due to the smaller, more intimate size of both our gallery space and our conference in
general, we limit the number of professional venders. Tailgaters may show up as they like. Anyone is open to be a tailgater
and sell tools, equipment, etc., in our parking lot area. RMS asks that all tailgaters please donate something to either Iron
and the Hat and/or Silent Auction.
Notes about the 2015 Rocky Mountain Blacksmithing Conference:
· Conference check-in will begin at 1:00 p.m. on August 5 and will continue through August 8.
· Registration fee includes RMS membership thru the next fiscal year (Sept. 30, 2016).
· Confirmation will be sent only if an e-mail address or a SASE is provided.
· Eye protection required in forging areas. Ear protection is strongly recommended.
THERE IS NO SMOKING ANYWHERE ON THE CRMS CAMPUS
25th Rocky Mountain Blacksmithing Conference, Aug 5-Aug 9, 2015 • Registration Form
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing address____________________________City___________________State_____ZIP________
Email (legible) ______________________________________ Phone: (_______)__________________
Full names of family accompanying you: Spouse/significant other_______________________________
Children/ages: _____________________________________________________________________
EARLY
LATE BIRD AMOUNT
postmarked
BIRD
PAID
after July 15
postmarked
by July 15
REQUIRED CONFERENCE FEE, PER PERSON
includes one BBQ ticket per person
Participant (includes RMS membership for FY 2016)
Spouse / significant other / child 12+. (not your employees!)
Child under 12 no registration fee, but must pay
lodging/meals
$175
$50
$200
$60
$
$
LODGING AND MEAL OPTIONS, PER PERSON
You may take lodging and meals elsewhere if you prefer.
Lodging and all meals at school package, including Wednesday dinner, Sunday breakfast and farewell sack lunch. Lodging is
twin bed in two-person dorm room. Blanket, pillow, towel, washcloth included. Shared bath down the hall.
Participant lodging and all meals
Spouse/significant other/each child 12 or older
Child under 12 staying in room with parent(s), each
$ 260
$ 260
$ 50
$ 270
$ 270
$ 60
$
$
$
Meals only package without school dorm lodging. Rates are per person regardless of age (school policy).
All meals, Wednesday dinner through Sunday sack lunch
$ 130
$140
$
Breakfasts only, Thur, Fri and Sat (no Sunday breakfast)
Lunches only, Thur, Fri and Sat (no Sunday sack lunch)
Dinners only, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
$ 35
$ 35
$ 40
$ 40
$ 40
$ 45
$
$
$
Camping is available off-campus. Limited availability.
$ 20
$20
$
OTHER THINGS YOU MAY WANT
T-Shirts. 100% cotton, $14 in advance, $15 at conference. Order now to avoid disappointment – we will not
stock all sizes at the conference. Indicate quantity of each size/style you want.
Men’s conference logo
S
M
L
XL
XXL
XXXL
Qty x price =
$
Men’s RMS logo
S
M
L
XL
XXL
XXXL
Qty x price =
$
Women’s conference
S
M
L
XL
XXL
XXXL
logo
Advance purchase 12-DVD 2015 conference video set. All of the conference
demonstrators will be included.
Qty x price =
$
Sets x $90 =
$
Extra Saturday Night BBQ ticket for guest
Qty x $15
$
Other
$
TOTAL ENCLOSED
$
Pre-registration is recommended. Confirmation will be sent only if a legible email address or SASE is provided.
Everyone attending the conference, including spouses, must sign and submit the attached liability waiver.
Parent or guardian must sign for each minor. Make copies of waiver form if necessary.
Make check payable to Rocky Mountain Smiths. Mail, along with this form and liability waiver(s), to:
RMS Conference Registrar * PO Box 4 * Beulah, CO 81023
Rocky Mountain Smiths
Liability Waiver to be signed by all attending RMS events
Revised 6/2013
I am signing this waiver so that I may attend a conference, workshop, demonstration or other event sponsored by Rocky
Mountain Smiths, a nonprofit corporation (RMS). I understand that blacksmithing and related activities involve inherent
risks and dangers for both participants and spectators which can cause serious injury or death. I hereby unconditionally
waive any right that I might otherwise have to recover damages or other relief from RMS, it’s officers, directors, members,
employees, agents or other representatives, any demonstrators or other participant in the event and the owner or
operator of any facility at which the event occurs, as a result of any personal injury or property damage that I may suffer
in the course of or in connection with the event, including, without limitation, injury or damage arising out of acts or
omissions constituting negligence or gross negligence or facts or conditions that would give rise to premises liability. I
further agree not to bring any suit based in whole or in part on any claim covered by this waiver. I understand that RMS
would not admit me to the event in absence of this waiver and confirm that my admission constitutes adequate
consideration for this waiver.
By signing this waiver I agree to wear eye protection at all times in the forge, and ear protection when appropriate or
when advised to do so.
ADULTS
_________________________________________
(Registrant print name)
________________________________________
(Spouse/significant other print name)
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
(Signature)
(Signature)
_________________________________________
(Date)
________________________________________
(Date)
Emergency contact: __________________________________ Phone__________________________
MINORS
If the person attending the event is a minor, this waiver must also be signed on the minor’s behalf by a parent or legal
guardian. The signature of a person as parent or legal guardian constitutes a warranty that such a person has authority to
sign on behalf of the minor.
_______________________________________
(Minor’s name)
______________________________________
(Minor’s name)
_______________________________________
(Print name of parent or legal guardian)
______________________________________
(Print name of parent or legal guardian)
_______________________________________ ________________________________________
(Signature of parent or legal guardian)
(Signature of parent or legal guardian)
_______________________________________ ________________________________________
(Date)
(Date)
Emergency contact: _________________________________ Phone__________________________
Please wear safety glasses and hearing protection in the forge
Thursday
7:008:00am
Breakfast
8:0011:45am
Steve W
12:001:00
Lunch
1:305:15pm
Group
Project
Friday
7:008:00am
Breakfast
Saturday
7:008:00am
Breakfast
7:008:00am
8:0010:00am
Steve W
8:0010:00am
10:1511:45am
Dan M
Forge
Clean Up
Steve F
12:001:00
Lunch
12:001:00pm
Lunch
Say Goodbye
1:304:30pm
Gordo S
1:152:45pm
Dan M
Go Home
3:005:00pm
Steve F
Drive
carefully
Iron in the Hat
& Silent
Auction
write if
you get
work
4:305:30pm
Ice Breaker
Party on the
Lawn
Dinner
5:306:30pm
Dinner
5:156:00pm
7:008:30pm
Forging
Competition
7:009:00pm
Demonstrators
Slide Show
6:007:30pm
BBQ
7:308:30pm
Membership
Meeting
8:3010:00pm
Open Forge
Open Forge
Breakfast
8:0011:45am
5:306:30pm
8:3010:00pm
Sunday
8:0010:00pm
Open Forge
From the Samuel Yellin photo album
Steve Fontanini
Steve Fontanini is a designer and builder of forged metal work for home and business. Steve creates
architectural forgings such as stair railings, gates, fire place accessories, furniture and sculptural pieces.
Steve’s passion for art began early in life, being inspired by his father’s career as a professional
photographer. This led Steve to attend the Art Center College of design.
Forge work started in the early eighties when Steve began making his own horseshoes and other hand
forged projects such as furniture and other small hardware pieces. After an apprenticeship in a large
architectural shop in New Mexico Steve learned to forge larger projects in wider design arenas.
Steve’s shop at Hoback Junction, Wyoming has forged metal projects for jobs all over the country
from California to Pennsylvania to Florida and Texas not to mention right at home in Western Wyoming.
Steve Willamson
Steve Willamson is an accomplished blacksmith in architectural, functional and
ornamental fields and recently completed a five year project at the Nashville TN
Cemetery. His work can also be seen at the James K. Polk home in Columbia TN. His
formal training was largely at the John C. Campbell folk school and at the Tennessee
Center Technological University's Appalachian Center for Crafts where he is now an
instructor at both. He has studied under instructors such as Clay Spencer and Darryl
Nelson as well as being self - taught. Steve's dragons are legendary throughout the
blacksmith community and his down to earth style of demonstrating is forceful,
detailed and educational for the beginner, intermediate and advanced blacksmith.
Dan McNeil
Dan McNeil recently retired from the position of Technical Director for the Denver Center for
the Performing Arts after a career that spanned more than 3 decades to continue his life’s
journey as a full-time artisan and craftsman. Dan has been an active member in the Rocky
Mountain Smiths and ABANA and had the privilege of studying with Francis Whitaker in 1998.
Dan lives near Golden, Colorado, and collaborates with his wife, Cathy, on many artistic
endeavors.
Gordon Stonington
I learned blacksmithing, while teaching at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, from Francis Whitaker, who
came to CRMS as an Artist in Residence 1988. I worked with him for much of the last 10 years of his life.
He said to me when I first asked to work with him, “No, I don't work with beginners,” but through
blacksmithing work crews at the school he became convinced that I was sincerely interested and
determined to persevere. As I gained knowledge and skills, I became his assistant who could do much of
the teaching for less experienced students. I ran work crews and taught classes in blacksmithing in
addition to my other classes until I retired in 2008. A number of ironwork pieces created by CRMS students
and me with Francis' guidance grace the CRMS campus.
I currently am retired and living with my wife Liz on a farm near Paonia, Colorado. We grow hay, fruit, have
an extensive garden, and Liz breeds and shows Labrador Retrievers. I have a forge, and, when time
permits, am working on rails and other projects for myself and my home. I have had a couple of students
here who wished to develop their smithing skills. Another role that keeps me busy is having been elected a
director of our domestic water district. The district is in the middle of building a new treatment plant to
comply with regulations of the state health department.
I came to blacksmithing with a background of teaching science and mathematics, as well as having worked
with students on work crews utilizing problem solving and hands-on tinkering.
I taught at CRMS for 29 years. I became a teacher after earning a PhD studying the biology of the control
of RNA synthesis and post doctoral study of blood cell development. I had graduated from Williams
College with a major in physics.