Author: caniron

Matt Jenkins, St. Andrews, Manitoba

Blacksmithing tools, architectural, home decor
cloverdaleforge.com
instagram.com/cloverdaleforge

Matt spent his childhood in a construction zone as his parents and siblings constructed a log home. His dad introduced him to blacksmithing, although, as most teenagers, he stayed away from his parents’ interests. That attitude changed when he landed a summer job in the blacksmith shop at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site.

Having picked up a hammer at an early age, Matt feels at home working beside an anvil. Over the past 25 years, he has honed his skills and techniques while studying under master smiths around North America. Matt Jenkins is an internationally recognized award-winning blacksmith. In 2009, he received an Honorable Mention in the team forging at the World Forging Championship in Stia, Italy. Returning to Stia in 2015, Matt took home first place in the Drawing and Design category.

Matt uses hand tools and early industrial equipment to create designs with a timeless feel. In addition to daily forging for clients, he leads workshops at Cloverdale Forge and has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Center for Metal Arts.

For CanIRON XIII Matt will be demonstrating Design elements related to his 366 hook display.

Cairn Cunnane, Ottawa, Ontario

Sculptural crossovers of figurative, architectural, and plant forms
cairncunnane.ca

Cairn Cunnane is an Ottawa artist who creates pieces for specific people, places, or ideas, that range from hand held to large architectural installations.

“I’m learning about form, how to create a form to express a concept. I like the physical process as much as the finished product. Most of my work is handmade and this inevitably involves some form of blacksmithing in part or all of the piece.”

My demonstrations will be one about forging bronze, and the other about forging aluminum.

Mark Puigmarti, Port Perry, Ontario

Forged contemporary metalwork, public art, and sculpture
sparkswillflyforge.ca
instagram.com/sparkswillflyforge/

Mark was born and raised in a creative household in Toronto and he’s always had a desire to draw and make things. Using tools and different materials was just a way for him to bring an idea, practical or otherwise, to reality. Mark began to experiment with blacksmithing and forging techniques by trial and error in 1993. Through the forging process metal is squeezed, textured and formed at a bright yellow heat using tools as fingers.

“There is a window of opportunity to achieve what you aim to do before the metal cools and will resist. When the metal is too cold to work it is frozen in a new form with enticing hints of how it came to be.”

As time moves along he finds himself more often paying close attention to the effect of working the metal to unconventional outcomes. These effects and textures are partly dictated by letting go of the typical forging approaches, and at the same time letting the metal lead the way to new possibilities. A raw more organic form is the result.

“Industries are perfecting the raw materials into pristine homogenous profiles and I want to bring them back closer to their imperfect origins.”

Inspiration for his work comes from all the experiences in his life, surroundings, and the people that commission him. Many times Mark likes to mix concepts together and design crazy things that don’t exactly mimic/repeat nature or reality. Forging hot metal appeals to him on many levels including, the interaction of energy and design. Mark is voluntarily caught in a vortex of exploring and challenging the typical.

via: uxbridge studio tour

Peter Braspenninx, Michigan, USA

Hand crafted works of art and tools for the simple life
phyreforge.com
instagram.com/phyreforge

Pete Braspenninx, owner of Phyre Forge, is a graduate of the University of Michigan school of art and design (2004). He is an artist, blacksmith, and educator. His work has been shown, collected, and published nationally and internationally. His work focuses primarily on building shape and line through visual connections and joinery using traditional skills to make modern forms.

He also does architectural iron work along with sculptural work Pete’s work has been published in Anvil’s Ring, and De Klinknagel (Belgium). He has demonstrated at varied blacksmithing events, and conducted workshops at major craft centers. He has exhibited widely, including a solo show at the Metal Museum in 2018

For CanIRON XIII Pete will be demonstrating using traditional joinery techniques to create modern sculpture.

Dates: August 3-6, 2023
Location: Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex
Host City: Fergus, Ontario
Theme: “Sparking Your Creativity”

CanIRON XIII will run from Thursday August 3 to Sunday August 6, 2023 at Centre Wellington Community Sportplex located at 550 Belsyde Ave E in Fergus, Ontario. The Ontario Artist Blacksmith Association will host the event.

more about registration on the registration site.

Featured Blacksmiths

Terry Sheridan, Collingwood, Ontario
Matt Jenkins, St. Andrews, Manitoba
Brad Millman, Wiarton, Ontario
Cairn Cunnane, Ottawa, Ontario
Mark Puigmarti, Port Perry, Ontario
Peter Braspenninx, Michigan, USA
Robb Martin, Floradale, Ontario
David Robertson, Cargill, Ontario

and more…

Organizing Team/Contact

Ontario Artist Blacksmith Association

Sponsors

CanIRON VE – Manitoba Blacksmith Guild
Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America

Thank you to our sponsors!
Become a sponsor of CanIRON XIII