2012 Conference Brochure.pub

Dedicated to Francis Whitaker, 1906-1999
2012 ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLACKSMITHING
CONFERENCE XXII
August 1—August 5 , 2012 Carbondale Colorado
Rocky Mountain Smiths is pleased to announce the Rocky Mountain Blacksmithing Conference XXII,
held at the Francis Whitaker Blacksmith School on the campus of the Colorado Rocky Mountain School
in Carbondale, Colorado. Check-in begins Wednesday, August 1 at 1:00 P.M., with dinner at 5:30.
Demonstrations begin Thursday, August 2, at 8:00 A.M. and run through Saturday, August 4. 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 next five pages you will
find brief bios of this years five demonstrators. Mark Aspery and Clay Spencer will do three 3/4 hour
demos and a 2 hour Demo each. Alison Finn, Andy Morris and Rod Pickett will be doing one 3 hour
demo each. The demonstrators will be available in the evenings during Open Forge.
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Demonstrator Mark Aspery
Mark is a British Smith and a certified journeyman with the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, (a
UK Guild started in London in 1324). Currently an Associate of the company (AWCB) Mark is also a
certified farrier with the American Farrier’s Association (AFA). He does maintain that these
qualifications and a dollar will only get you a cup of pretty poor tasting coffee, but that the endeavors
were priceless.
Mark owns and operates the ‘Mark Aspery School of Blacksmithing’ traveling the USA teaching
classes for ABANA affiliates and giving blacksmith demonstrations. Mark is currently writing the third
volume to his ‘How to’ blacksmith book series, The Skills of a Blacksmith Vol. III – Joinery and related
tooling. Mark is careful not to call himself a traditional smith, perhaps classical is a more apt phrase.
Mark likes to use classical joinery techniques where budget and design allow. An underlying ethos of
Mark’s work is ‘make the tools before you can begin the job’. At this time Mark does not do any
regular commission blacksmithing, just the occasional small job, and states “I am a little out-of-touch
with that side of the profession.” Mark states that the single most important event that has improved
his blacksmithing has been to teach it – having to know the root of the skill or information.”
Mark maintains that he is as much a student of blacksmithing as the next smith, and is ready to learn
more – with a subject this vast, how can he say anything else.
For his demo Mark is going to have a go at making this 'ring-thing' for his demo this August, with any
remaining time being devoted to making the required tooling for the project.
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Demonstrator Alison Finn
Alison has been working as a professional smith for over 15 years. She, and husband
Steve, have their own architectural blacksmithing business (Freedom Metals Inc.) in
Marble, Colorado. She teaches, and demonstrates nationally, and is strongly committed to
traditional methods and techniques. Alison started her career as an artist by pursuing a fine
arts degree. She received her BFA in painting and drawing from West Virginia University in
1988, and her MFA in sculpture from James Madison University in 1992. Her formal
training in blacksmithing started with Fred Crist, and has continued with other traditional
smiths such as Francis Whitaker, Clay Spencer and Dorothy Stiegler. Whether working with
her clients or teaching classes, she combines her experience as an artist with her
knowledge of traditional blacksmithing to promote creativity, develop a strong sense of
design, and produce well crafted work.
During her demonstration for this conference, she will be discussing and utilizing traditional
forging techniques as they pertain to one of her current projects.
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Demonstrator Andy Morris
Andy has been blacksmithing since 1991 when he was first introduced to the craft by the
Director of the Littleton History Museum, Bob McQuarie. When Mr. Mac heated the piece of
metal to a white heat and starting beating on it, Andy knew he was hooked. Since then Andy
has spent as much time in the presence of talented smiths as he can. His many teachers
include Francis Whitaker, Peter Ross, Clay Spencer, Frank Turley and Richard Bent as well
as more secluded smiths all over the country.
When not working on his own projects, he demonstrates to the visitors at Rock Ledge Ranch
Historic Site as well as many festivals and blacksmith gatherings.
Andy says “It will be a private dream come true to be able to demonstrate in the smithy of
Francis Whitaker. I owe Francis a debt of gratitude for sharing his time and immense talent
with me over the years. I especially have fond memories of the two different projects he and I
spent working together and I am forever reminded of the Masters presence looking over my
shoulder whenever I am forging.”
Andy will be demonstrating tradition blacksmith techniques using hammer and anvil with a
fair amount of forge welding thrown in.
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Demonstrator Rod Pickett
Years ago, in a small Nebraska town, Rod's interest in smithing was sparked while watching
his great-grandfather play with fire and iron. Years later, Rod's early childhood fascination
with blacksmithing merged with his God-given artistic abilities to enable him to become the
artist-blacksmith he is today.
Rod's professional experience began in 1981 when he was hired by an aluminum fabrication
company in Clearwater, Florida. He quickly learned all aspects of the industry including metal
fabrication, architectural measure and layout, TIG welding and the basics of running a
construction related business. In 1984, Rod and his wife Julie started their own business,
Pickett Fence and Rail. They specialized in custom aluminum railing, fencing, and spiral
staircases.
Though business was good, Rod and Julie yearned to return home to Colorado and pursue
more artistic endeavors. So in 1993, they packed up their home, business and four children
and moved to Durango, Colorado where Forging Ahead was born. Over the past couple of
decades, Rod has continued to grow in the craft and is known for his expertise in designing
and creating architectural pieces for a wide range of clients and complex situations. For the
past 10 years, he has been training his son Lee, who is an integral part of the business.
Rocky Mountains Smiths, as well as ABANA, has played an important role in his continued
growth as an artist-blacksmith. Rod was president of Rocky Mountain Smiths from 1998 to
2003 and has maintained his involvement in the organization through board membership after
his presidency and currently as co-librarian with his wife Julie.
Rod will be demonstrating the technical aspects of architectural metalwork by explaining
measure and layout, the basics of form building, and demonstrating the bending of a
continuous handrail around a 180 degree turn.
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Demonstrator Clay Spencer
Clay Spencer worked at and retired from NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center in 1988. He started
blacksmithing in 1987 with Jim Batson and redesigned the ABANA treadle hammer. He took classes
from Walt Scadden, Tom Joyce, Peter Ross and Francis Whitaker. He has demonstrated and lead
workshops at several national conferences and over 3 dozen ABANA affiliates. Over 700 treadle
hammers, 380 tire hammers and 5000 tools have been made in the workshops. For 10 years he was
writer and editor of the "Bituminous Bits" for the Alabama Forge Council, served on the ABANA Board
3 terms, received the Alex Bealer Award and life membership in ABANA, AFC and BAM. Francis
asked him to teach the Advanced class at the Folk School when he retired. The new timber frame
blacksmith shop at the school is named for Clay.
Please Wear Safety glasses & hearing protection in the Forge
Note– Schedule subject to change
Clay’s demonstration/presentation: One of sessions will be making a traditional joinery project such as
a small grill. Making tools for use with power hammer such as V block, rope swage, scissors cutter,
side sets or butchers, taper die and fuller-flatter. A flat die power hammer will be used to forge the
tools. Another session will show use of tools on a flat die power hammer to forge various items and
tools. Clay will bring a tire hammer he designed and other special tools needed for his demonstration.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Colorado Rocky Mountain School will provide reasonably priced lodging in double occupancy, shared
bath, dorm style rooms for the evenings of August 1, 2, 4 & 4 and ten meals beginning with dinner on
Wednesday the 1st through breakfast and sack lunch on Sunday August 5st. 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 pre-register 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 portapotty, 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, 1800-872-7245) 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]
Page 7 ~ A Publication of the Rocky Mountain Smiths ~ 2012
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 vender (i.e.: setting 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 2012 Rocky Mountain Blacksmithing Conference:
•
Conference check-in will begin at 1:00 p.m. on August 1st and will continue through August 4th.
•
Registration fee includes RMS membership thru the next fiscal year (Sept. 30, 2013).
•
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
Page 8 ~ A Publication of the Rocky Mountain Smiths ~ 2012
22nd Rocky Mountain Blacksmithing Conference, August 1-5, 2012 • Registration Form
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Mailing address_________________________City________________State____ZIP________
Email (legible) ________________________________ Phone: (_______)_________________
Full names of family accompanying you: Spouse/significant other________________________
Children/ages:
__________________________________________________________
CONFERENCE FEES
Postmarked
before July 15
Postmarked
after July 15
Amount Paid
Required: Registration fee per person. Includes BBQ.
Participant (includes RMS membership for FY 2013)
Spouse / significant other / children 12+. (not your employees!)
Children under 12 no registration fee.
$175
$50
$ N/C
$200
$60
$ N/C
$
$
$ 0.00
Optional: Lodging and meals at school. Includes Wednesday dinner, Sunday breakfast, sack lunch.
Lodging is bunk bed in dorm room, linens included, bath down the hall, spartan, convenient. You may
take lodging and meals elsewhere if you prefer.
Participant lodging and all meals
$ 260
$ 270
$
Spouse/significant other/each child 12 or older
$ 260
$ 270
$
Child, under 12 staying in room with parent, each
$ 50
$ 60
$
Camping, off campus, primitive, per person
$20
$25
Optional: Meals only without school lodging. Rates are per person regardless of age.
All meals, Wednesday dinner through Sunday sack lunch
$ 130
$140
Breakfasts only, Thur, Fri & Sat (no Sunday breakfast)
$ 35
$ 40
Lunches only, Thur, Fri & Sat (no Sunday sack lunch)
$ 35
$ 40
Dinners only, Wed, Thur, & Fri
$ 40
$ 45
$
$
$
$
Optional: T-Shirts. 100% cotton, $14 advance, $15 at conference. Order now to avoid disappointment – we
will not stock all sizes at the conference. This year’s women’s shirts fit relatively true to size.
Men’s conference logo
S__ M__ L__ XL__ XXL_ XXXL__ Qty____x$14 =
$
Men’s RMS logo
S__ M__ L__ XL__ XXL_ XXXL__ Qty____x$14 =
$
Women’s conference logo S__ M__ L__ XL__ XXL_ XXXL__ Qty____x$14 =
$
Optional: Other selections
Advance purchase 12-DVD 2012 conference video set. All of the
conference demonstrators will be included.
Extra Saturday Night BBQ ticket (see box below)
Sets____x$90 =
$
Qty____x$15
$
$
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.
Can’t make it to the whole conference
but want to visit with your blacksmith
buddies? Come late Saturday afternoon
for the BBQ and membership meeting.
Someone wants to join you for the
Saturday Night BBQ?
$15 per person for just the BBQ without
conference attendance.
Advance payment required. We must let
the kitchen know how many to expect.
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
THERE IS NO SMOKING ANYWHERE ON THE CRMS CAMPUS
MAP: MapQuest or Google 1493 County Rd 106, Carbondale, CO 81623
More info at www.rockymountainsmiths.org.
Liability Waiver to be signed by all attending RMS events
Revised 4/2012
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.
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__________________________
Rocky Mountain Smiths membership application
Return this form with your check made payable to Rocky Mountain Smiths.
Mail to:
Michael Otis, Editor
4520 S. Lipan Ct.
Englewood, CO 80110-5512
Name ________________________________ Spouse _____________ Date_________
Address ____________________________ City______________ State _______
Zip _________________ e-mail _______________________________________________
Phone _________________________ Business Name____________________________
Blacksmith Skill Level:
Student
Beginner
Hobbyist
Artist
Intermediate
Advanced
Business Owner/Practicing Smith
Metal Smithing Specialty _________________________________________
Website ________________________________________
Membership Level:
$25 Student*
$40 Individual
$45 Family
$50+ Contributory
New Member
Renewal
Address Change
ABANA Member
* A student is defined as an individual of less then 18 years of age. A parent or legal
guardian must sign and date on the line below, in so doing giving permission for the
applicant named above to participate in RMS activities.
Signature of parent or legal guardian ____________________________ Date ________
Print name of parent or guardian _____________________________
Page 11 ~ A Publication of the Rocky Mountain Smiths ~ 2012
Michael Otis, Editor
4520 S. Lipan Ct.
Englewood, CO 80110-5512
Return Service Requested
Page 12 ~ A Publication of the Rocky Mountain Smiths ~ 2012