Iron

Iron Workshops at Penland

Penland offers intensive workshops of varying lengths, taught by visiting instructors in our well-equipped studios. Class topics include traditional blacksmithing, forging and forming steel and iron, metal sculpture, working with found metal, finishing techniques, and more. Workshops are open to serious students of all levels unless specified in course description; beginners welcome.

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  • Please read this note about our session schedules.
Iron Spring Concentration
March 3 – April 26, 2024 (8 Weeks)
Anna R. Koplik
Tongs, Hammers, and Other Slammers

This workshop will explore the self-sufficient nature of blacksmithing as students make a series of tools. Each tool will aid in the creation of the next and this series of projects will help develop basic forging skills. We’ll make hammers, tongs, top tools, power hammer tooling, bending forks and jigs, and more. The workshop structure will allow students to make tools to suit their interests, culminating in making functional or sculptural projects of their own design. Demonstrations will focus on refining forging technique, proper heat treatment, and finishing. We’ll work to understand how form and function go hand in hand. Expect lots of hand hammering, striking with sledgehammers, power hammer work, a welcoming and inclusive environment, and breaks for dance parties. All levels.

Artist fellow at Peters Valley (NJ), journeyman architectural blacksmith, tool and utensil maker; teaching: Penland, Touchstone (PA), Peters Valley (NJ), Haystack (ME), Center for Metal Arts (PA), Campbell Folk School (NC), Desert Metal Craft (AZ), Brookfield (CT), She-Weld (NY), Dragons Breath Forge (CT); recent exhibition: Penland Gallery.

annarkoplik.com | @arkoplik

 

Anna R. Koplik, Hammers and Tongs, forged steel, wood, dimensions variable
Anna R. Koplik, Hammers and Tongs, forged steel, wood, dimensions variable
Iron – Spring Short Session
April 28-May 3, 2024 (4 Studio Days)
Addison de Lisle
Leaf it to Me: Botanical Candlesticks

Candlesticks are a great way to explore the sculptural potential of ironwork while keeping a toe in the functional world. This workshop will walk students through the process of forging botanical-style candlesticks that take advantage of the organic qualities of forged iron. Along the way we’ll get comfortable with using forge-welding to make visually exciting pieces from simple parts. Other blacksmithing techniques will include drawing down, bending, upsetting, hot cutting, and drifting. This workshop will be of use to beginners looking to develop their technique as well as experienced students interested in pushing their design skills. All levels. 

Studio artist; former professor of blacksmithing at American College of Building Arts (SC); workshop teaching: Haystack (ME), Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), Center for Metal Arts (PA), University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale; exhibitions; Metal Museum (TN), Institute for Contemporary Art (ME), Wayne Art Center (PA).

addisondelisle.com | @de_lisle_iron

Scholarship application deadline is August 15.
Regular enrollment begins October 2.

Addison de Lisle, Botanical Candlesticks II, mild steel, 15 x 5 x 5 inches
Addison de Lisle, Botanical Candlesticks II, mild steel, 15 x 5 x 5 inches
IRON – SUMMER SESSION 1
May 26-31, 2024 (4 STUDIO DAYS)
Erica A. Meier 
Decorative Utensils for Daily Life

We use utensils every day; they decorate our homes, evoke memory, and are passed down as heirlooms. Using etched steel and brass sheet, along with basic forging and fabrication techniques, each student will create a pair of utensils for daily life. These may be spatulas, strainers, choppers, or sculptural utensils. We will cover many fundamental techniques including cold and hot forming (forging, sinking, basic sheet fabrication), cold and hot connections (riveting and brazing), and finishing (sanding, filing, texturing). Decorative, custom-etched steel plates will be provided for student use. This workshop will give you the foundational skills and confidence you need to work productively with steel and make quality objects. Beginning level.

Studio artist, faculty and tech/safety coordinator at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI); previous designer and frame builder at Waterford Precision Cycles (WI),  Rally America co-driver; residencies: Arrowmont (TN), Haystack (ME), Waterford Precision Cycles (WI); recent exhibitions: The Baconsin (NC), Innova Gallery (WI).

ericaameier.com | @ericaameier_artist 
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Erica A. Meier, Spill, etched steel, forged brass, 17 x 7 x 1-3/4
Erica A. Meier, Spill, etched steel, forged brass, 17 x 7 x 1-3/4
IRON – SUMMER SESSION 2
June 2-14, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Maegan E. Crowley
Inspiration + Material Exploration

This workshop is designed to help students expand their sculptural vocabulary in steel. We will begin with basic blacksmithing techniques, then move on to forging pipe/tubing, hot/cold sheet forming, and fabrication techniques. Along with group demonstrations, students will receive individual instruction to help them develop their own concepts. We will emphasize personal expression as students apply various techniques in creating their own sculpture. Inspiration, material exploration, scale, and metal finish will all be considered as each student works toward their finished piece. All levels.

Studio artist, owner of Iron Maegan Metalworks producing custom metalwork for residential, public, and commercial sites; teaching: Haystack (ME), Penland, Ox-Bow (MI), Peters Valley (NJ), New England School of Metalwork (ME).  

ironmaeganmetalworks.com | @ironmaegan
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Maegan E. Crowley, Divided, forged and fabricated steel, gold leaf, 60 x 24 x 5 inches
Maegan E. Crowley, Divided, forged and fabricated steel, gold leaf, 60 x 24 x 5 inches
IRON – SUMMER SESSION 3
June 16-28, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Eric A. Ryser
Contained

This workshop will focus on vessel forms as students design and construct objects that express their interpretation of the word “contained.” We will cover the fundamentals of layout, forging and fabrication, and surface decoration. Techniques will include hand- and power-hammer work, welding, sheet metal construction and joinery, hot and cold press operation, texturing, etching, coloring, and more. Individual creativity will be encouraged in the creation of both sculptural and functional objects. The workshop will fuse traditional and contemporary finishing processes. Group conversations and individual instruction will be an ongoing part of the workshop. All levels. 

Studio artist; teaching; Kansas State University, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), Penland; exhibitions: Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (KS), Alice C. Sabatini Gallery (KS), Cranbrook Art Museum (MI), Metal Museum (TN), Fuller Craft Museum (MA).

ryserforge.com | @ericryser
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Eric A. Ryser, Better Off, forged and fabricated steel, acid-etched pattern, paint, 12 x 7 x 2-3/4 inches
Eric A. Ryser, Better Off, forged and fabricated steel, acid-etched pattern, paint, 12 x 7 x 2-3/4 inches
METALS/IRON– SUMMER SESSION 3
June 16-28, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Sarah Holden
Steel for Jewelers: From Mild to Wild

Students in this workshop will explore steel at the scale of jewelry. Our first focus will be fabrication as we discuss the differences between soldering, brazing, and welding and experiment with all of them. Students will then be able to create sheets of patterned steel with wire and/or make jewelry and/or small objects from steel sheet. We will cover pattern development and material behavior and discuss creative linkages, surface design, preservation techniques, and incorporating steel into jewelry designs. All levels. Lower metals studio. 

Studio artist; teaching: Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Evanston Art Center (IL), Lillstreet Art Center (IL); Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Grant (IL); exhibitions: Fuller Craft Museum (MA), Specific Gravity (NY), Quirk Gallery (VA), Penland Gallery (NC); representation: Baltimore Jewelry Center (MD), Equinox Gallery (TX), Gallery 2052 (IL), Ombre Gallery (OH); collections: Mint Museum (NC), Racine Art Museum (WI). 

sarahholdenmetalsmithing.com | @holdensc
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Sarah Holden, Mother of Pearl, mild steel, sterling silver, 10 x 10 x 1/4 inches
Sarah Holden, Mother of Pearl, mild steel, sterling silver, 10 x 10 x 1/4 inches
IRON – SUMMER SESSION 4
June 30-July 12, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Andrew Meers
Damascus: Introduction to Pattern Welding

This workshop will cover basic forge-welding and patterning, including traditional and contemporary techniques for fusing and patterning carbon steel. Students will become familiar with basic forging operations as they set up and develop patterned materials that can then be shaped into Damascus objects. The workshop will encompass basic patterning styles, including twisting, laddering, and multi-bar composites. The focus will be on material and aesthetic pattern development; we will not cover knifemaking. All levels.

Studio artist, teaching: Penland, New England School of Metalwork (ME), Touchstone (PA); Master Bladesmith rating and B.R. Hughes Award from American Bladesmithing Society; residencies: Metal Museum (TN), Penland Resident Artist Program. 

andrewmeersstudio.com | @mr.meers
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Andrew Meers, Barn Owl, Damascus steel, gold, shibuichi, shakudo; inlaid and engraved, 3 x 3 x 1 inch
Andrew Meers, Barn Owl, Damascus steel, gold, shibuichi, shakudo; inlaid and engraved, 3 x 3 x 1 inch
PHOTO/MIXED MEDIA – SUMMER SESSION 4
June 30-July 12, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Sally Van Gorder
Photographing Your Work: Documentation for Artists

Photographic records are essential to every art practice. They can describe a work, provide an exhibition view, supply installation instructions, ensure accurate color for print reproduction, or communicate the character of a practice.They can also express an aesthetic and convey a narrative. This workshop considers the many contexts in which these images are made and used. We will work digitally and explore the technical requirements for quality pictures. Demonstrations will cover camera control, natural and artificial lighting, and post-production workflows, including color correction, retouching, file output, and storage. We will cover everything you need to get the best images of your work from the conditions and equipment you’re working with, whether you have a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or cell phone. This workshop is for any art/craft practitioner wanting to photograph their work. All levels. Photography studio.

Professor at North Carolina State University; other teaching: Virginia Commonwealth University (Qatar), Oregon College of Art and Craft, Pacific Northwest College of Art (OR); residencies: Brightwork Fellow at Anchorlight (NC); exhibitions: North Carolina Museum of Art, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (NC), Contemporary Art Museum (NC).

sallyvangorder.com | @sallyvangorder
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Sally Van Gorder, Setup for Precious Lovell documentation
Sally Van Gorder, Setup for Precious Lovell documentation
Sally Van Gorder, Setup for Precious Lovell documentation Precious Lovell, WangariMaathai, photograph by Sally Van Gorder
Precious Lovell, WangariMaathai, photograph by Sally Van Gorder
IRON – SUMMER SESSION 5
July 14-26, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Sophie Glenn
Welding and Fabrication

This workshop will focus on the fundamentals of welding and steel fabrication for creating functional pieces and sculpture. We will make templates; learn about MIG/TIG welding and plasma cutting; explore steel’s plasticity with various bending and shaping tools, such as oxy-acetylene torch, swage blocks, slip roller, bending brake and English wheel; and work with other tools and machines. By the end of the session, each student will have fabricated a larger project showcasing all of their creativity and new metalworking skills. All levels.  

Studio artist; teaching: Arrowmont (TN), Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), Haystack (ME), Pocosin (NC); John D. Mineck Furniture Fellowship, Center for Emerging Visual Artists Fellowship (Philadelphia); residencies: Haystack Open Studio (ME), Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), Vermont Studio Center (VT); exhibitions: Blue Spiral 1 Gallery (NC), Museum for Art in Wood (PA), Fuller Craft Museum (MA), Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (TX), Mint Museum (NC).

www.sophieglenn.com | @arcburn_furniture
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Sophie Glenn, Purple Reign, painted and rusted steel, 42 x 50 x 19 inches
Sophie Glenn, Purple Reign, painted and rusted steel, 42 x 50 x 19 inches
IRON – SUMMER SESSION 6
July 28-August 9, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Pat Quinn
Pizza Box Stool

Explore the process of forging and threaded joinery while making a stool that will pack flat into a large pizza box. We will cover some basic forging and joinery techniques and use those techniques as parameters for design and construction. Students will begin by making samples based on demonstrated techniques. Then they will present conceptual and construction/joinery ideas and make samples based on them. Once these have been refined, students will design and build their stool. This workshop is for students who are excited by the project and are interested in power-hammer forging, making hardware, and being challenged by design possibilities and limitations. Some forging experience is strongly recommended, but this workshop is open to all levels. 

Executive director and teacher at Center for Metal Arts (PA); other teaching: Hereford College of the Arts (UK), Penland, The Haystack (ME), and The Adirondack Folk School (NY); Niche Award; exhibitions: Museum of the City of New York, Metal Museum (TN).

@handforgedinvt
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Pat Quinn, Untitled, steel, copper, 8 x 22 x 6 inches
Pat Quinn, Untitled, steel, copper, 8 x 22 x 6 inches
WOOD/MIXED MEDIA– SUMMER SESSION 6
July 28-August 9, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Annie Evelyn
Interconnection: Not Just for Woodworkers

The wood class that’s not just for woodworkers! This introductory class is designed to help you incorporate a pre-existing object or material into a table or stool. Is it clay? glass? metal? wood? fiber? found object? Don’t have anything yet? We’ll find something when you arrive. The interconnection of two materials creates an exciting opportunity for creativity and problem-solving. You will learn to safely use the jointer, planer, table saw, bandsaw, mortiser, Festool Domino, router, and various hand tools. Class vibes: having fun, supporting each other, and celebrating accomplishments. All levels. Wood studio.

Assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University; development director and co-founder of Crafting the Future; residencies: Penland Resident Artist Program, Windgate Resident Artist at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI), San Diego State University, Wornick Distinguished Visiting Professor at California College of the Arts; exhibitions: Center for Craft (NC), Tacoma Glass Museum (WA), Fuller Craft Museum (MA) Center for Art in Wood (PA).

annieevelyn.com | @annie_evelyn_furniture
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Annie Evelyn, Windsor Flower Chair, ash, glass vials, fresh flowers, 40 x 28 x 26 inches
Annie Evelyn, Windsor Flower Chair, ash, glass vials, fresh flowers, 40 x 28 x 26 inches
IRON – SUMMER SESSION 7
August 11-16, 2024 (4 STUDIO DAYS)
Gabriel Craig and Amy Weiks
A Love Letter to Grilles

Grilles have been used for centuries to enclose and protect, and they are the basis for a variety of forms, including gates, trellises, trivets, and fire screens. Blending pattern, form, and function, grilles are a potent vehicle for expression. In this workshop students will make small grillework that could be functional items or studies for larger work. We will cover tapering and scrolling before moving on to jig making to aid in creating repeated parts. We will cover collars, rivets, laps, and tenons and will introduce forge welding as a means of creating complexity in the grille components or frame. No matter where you are in your smithing journey, there will be plenty to assimilate. All levels. 

Metalsmiths, owners of Smith Shop (Detroit); teaching: Haystack (ME), Savannah College of Art and Design, Wayne State University (MI); residencies: Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, California College of the Arts, Warren Wilson College (NC); collections: Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC), Cranbrook Art Museum (MI), Mint Museum (NC). 

smithshop.com | @smithshopdetroit
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Gabriel Craig and Amy Weiks, Heirloom Trivet, forged and fabricated steel, 2-1/2 x 9-1/2 x 21 inches
Gabriel Craig and Amy Weiks, Heirloom Trivet, forged and fabricated steel, 2-1/2 x 9-1/2 x 21 inches
IRON – FALL SHORT SESSION
SEPTEMBER 22 – 27, 2024 (4 STUDIO DAYS) 
Susan Madacsi
Paper to Fire: Forged Botanicals

Using paper as a design and problem-solving tool, students will learn to translate the natural world into forged steel. We will start by gathering botanical objects that carry aesthetic intrigue. Then we will make paper patterns inspired by these gatherings and use various tools to cut sheet, thin plate, and angle iron and create leaves, petals, stems, etc. We will cover the transition from a flat plane to volumetric form through folding, creasing, and rolling metal while it is in a malleable state. Forging techniques and different hammer styles will create surface texture. I will also demonstrate a variety of finishing techniques that use color. Students will return home with samples, patterns to work with in their own studios, and a finished piece. All levels. 

Studio artist; teaching: Campbell Folk School (NC), New England School of Metalwork (ME), Brookfield (CT), The Steel Yard (RI); exhibitions: Seattle Art Fair (WA), 1st International Biennale (Braga, Portugal), Bellevue Arts Museum (WA), Metal Museum (TN), Fuller Craft Museum (MA), Smithsonian Craft Show (DC), Philadelphia Museum Craft Show, David Lusk Gallery (TN); residencies: Ferro (Germany), Vermont Studio Center. 

madacsistudios.com | @smadacsi

Susan Madacsi, Tulips for Steven, forged and fabricated steel, paints, wax, 26 x 13 x 2 inches
Susan Madacsi, Tulips for Steven, forged and fabricated steel, paints, wax, 26 x 13 x 2 inches
IRON – FALL CONCENTRATION
SEPTEMBER 29 – NOVEMBER 8, 2024 (6 weeks)
James (Coop) Cooper
Moving and Shaping Iron

This workshop will explore the plasticity of iron. Forging at the anvil and using machines, we will employ basic forging techniques to create simple and complex sculptural objects. We will begin with simple exercises, developing a vocabulary and an understanding of how iron moves under the hammer. As confidence increases, we will explore form and volume, developing ideas into designs. 

Students will be encouraged to incorporate natural materials, such as stone or wood, with a thought toward physical and visual balance. Expect field trips to the scrap yard and into the forest in search of materials and inspiration. We will explore color through paint, patina, tinted waxes, and vitreous enamels. There will be regular demonstrations and individual instruction throughout the workshop. Forging iron is physically demanding; please come with a desire to work hard and a playful spirit. All levels. 

Studio artist; former artist-in-residence and conservator at The Metal Museum (TN); teaching: The Metal Museum (TN), Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), Penland; public art: City Center Park (NC), Birmingham Botanical Garden (AL), Emory Children’s Hospital (Atlanta), Wildacres Retreat (NC); galleries: Penland Gallery, Mica Gallery (NC). 

cricketscove.net | @cricketsforge

James (Coop) Cooper, Iron Orchids, iron, paint, 24 x 9 × 9 inches
James (Coop) Cooper, Iron Orchids, iron, paint, 24 x 9 × 9 inches