News & Updates

Leah Aripotch, Oakland, California

leaharipotch.com

Leah Aripotch is a metal sculptor based in Oakland, California. She was born is 1987 and raised in Montauk, New York. She spent her childhood in swamps catching bugs and reptiles, surrounded by the lore of the abandoned air force base in her childhood backyard. She studied painting at SCAD for three years before transferring and receiving her BFA in sculpture from Academy of Art University. Upon graduating, she began a paid apprenticeship in a commercial fabrication shop under her mentor, Brian Martin. Three years later, she opened her own metal shop where she has since focused exclusively on making art.

Her work has gone down the runway at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, featured in various magazines and publications, and displayed in museums across the country, including the National Museum of Metal, the Fuller Craft Museum, Haggin Museum, and the DeYoung.

A forever student of the metal arts, she continues to train and learn under masters of the craft and is constantly pursuing the equipment and knowledge necessary to push the limits of what can be hand built in steel. She lives in Oakland with her husband and two cats and builds monsters and aliens out of her metal shop. – leaharipotch.com

Ryan Belanger, Aylmer, Ontario

instagram.com/ryanbelanger_truenorthforge

Ryan Belanger is a skilled blacksmith with a deep passion for crafting high-quality tools and sharing his knowledge with aspiring smiths. Known for his precision and dedication to the craft, Ryan specializes in hand-forged tools. His work balances tradition with functionality, ensuring each piece is both beautiful and built to last.

Ryan’s commitment to advancing blacksmithing extends to his role as a National Curriculum Instructor (NCI) with ABANA, where he plays a pivotal role in helping new smiths develop a strong foundation. Drawing heavily from ABANA’s curriculum in his own practice, Ryan’s journey is a testament to the importance of structured learning in mastering blacksmithing. He also showcases his skill through ambitious projects like the ABANA Level-3 grille, which reflects his drive for continuous improvement and excellence.

Ryan Belanger’s blend of craftsmanship, teaching, and dedication to the blacksmithing community makes him a valuable addition to CanIRON XIV. His passion for sharing knowledge and commitment to the art form will leave a lasting impression on attendees.

Frank Annighofer, Beartooth Mountains, Montana

woodandironworks.com

“Frank always had an artistic talent. He has been handcrafting little sculptures and training his eye in photography since childhood. Frank learned blacksmithing in the late 1960s/early 1970s in his father Dieter’s shop in Hamburg, Germany. In these years he traveled around in Germany and Italy to take photographs of blacksmithing art to bring new ideas into the family business. Frank learned the basics of blacksmithing just like his father Dieter had learned them from his father, Frank’s grandfather, Arthur. Arthur Annighofer ran a small copper and iron smithing business in Insterburg in East Prussia. He received his Meisterbrief (master diploma) in 1930.

It was hard to make a living from pure blacksmithing at the time Frank apprenticed with his father. Machine fabricated pickets and scrolls came on the market that looked almost like hand forged. And only few people had the money to afford traditionally handcrafted metal art. Frank decided on a different career. After receiving his PhD in polymer sciences he worked in different functions from research to marketing, from consulting to general management in the US, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to name just a few.

It would take until 2003 when Frank and Annette decided to quit the business tread mill and to go back to their roots. They moved to the solitude of Montana’s Beartooth Mountains where they have built quite a reputation as artists and handcrafters since then.”

woodandironworks.com/index.php?section=aboutus

Noah Vachon, Quebec City, Quebec

vachonknives.com

Noah Vachon, a seasoned bladesmith from La Belle province, has earned recognition for his masterful craftsmanship, featured in Blade Magazine, Knife Magazine, and on podcasts like Full Blast Podcast and Forge Side Chat. Working from his shop, Noah crafts knives with exceptional precision, using a variety of steels and advanced lamination techniques that are as beautiful as they are functional.

What makes his demonstration a must-see? Noah will delve into the intricacies of lamination—a process that requires careful layering and shaping of metals for strength and aesthetic appeal. His approach combines traditional methods with innovative tweaks, offering a fresh perspective for new and seasoned smiths alike.

His dedication to quality and detail is evident in every blade he produces, and attendees will leave with actionable techniques and tips to elevate their own work. In addition to his hands-on expertise, Noah brings a passion for teaching, offering knife coaching and multi-day courses designed to empower new knifemakers and
challenge more experienced smiths. Come see Noah in action at CanIRON XIV and
gain insight into what it takes to craft an heirloom-quality blade.

For a glimpse into his artistry, visit vachonknives.com.

Jake James, Sooke, British Columbia

jakejames.ca/the-blacksmith/

Jake James is an award-winning British born and educated Blacksmith. He has a quarter century of success creating functional and sculptural work in forged metals.

From large architectural commissions to small and personal sculptural works, Jake’s vision is to create an experience with forged metal that holds true to the rich heritage of the craft, while exploring concepts and themes that will bring to your project a personal flavour and sense of connection that goes beyond surface adornment.

“My love of forging metals is written in the forms that I create, but the relationship I have with the material of my profession goes much further than the simple act of hammering it into shape. It is our control of Iron that has allowed the expansion of humanity across the planet, for good and bad, and that duality plays deeply into my thoughts and my expression as I design my work.”

Pat Quinn, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

centerformetalarts.org/instructor/patrick-quinn/

“With a passion for sculpture and education Patrick uses forging as a vehicle to express himself sculptural and uses toolmaking and teaching as a way to share what he find so intrinsic about metalworking with his students. With a firm belief in “quality work starts with quality tooling,” Pat uses this philosophy to forge the best possible tooling for the Center for Metal Arts and himself. Trying to give all the students the best quality education is atop his priority list and he works tirelessly to try to make the Center for Metal Arts the best forging classroom it can be.

Pat’s sculpture is a mix of technique driven, and expressive forgings. Often inspired by Joinery techniques, he uses these as an outlet for sculptural and a way to join together contemporary forgings. Exercising a keen eye for design and developing work through both form and line, Pat is dawn to simple forgings, and building work with multiples. Reliant on design and composition, his work combines clean forgings with carefully contemplated construction.

Patrick J. Quinn is the executive director at the Center for Metal Arts in Johnstown Pa. where he teaches the resident blacksmithing classes and coordinates the visiting artist workshops. Pat has taught blacksmithing, fabrication, and tool making at Southern Illinois University, Hereford College of the arts, The Penland School of Craft, The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and The Adirondack Folk School.

Patrick is a 2015 Niche award winner and has work in the Evansville IN Museum of Art and science permanent collection. His work has been featured in juried exhibitions such as “Transitions” (Belgium), and “Forge” contemporary forged metal design (UK), “Craft Forms”, “43rd Mid States Craft Exhibition”, “New York Silver, Then and Now”(Museum of the City of New York) and “Metal in Motion” (National Ornamental Metal Museum).”

Press Release: [.pdf 7mb]

Since the MBG was founded in 2019, the executive has kept its sights on bringing CanIRON to the beautiful Manitoba prairies. We knew our central location, big skies, long days and hot forges would make for a great destination for the premier biennial blacksmithing event. Starting in 1995 in Vernon, BC, this will mark the Fourteenth edition of CanIRON.

Our biggest challenge in hosting CanIRON was finding the right location to welcome our brothers and sisters of iron. We found the perfect spot in Austin, MB: the Manitoba Agricultural Museum. Spanning 160 acres, this is the largest living history museum in Canada, with 50 acres of historical buildings that transport visitors back in time. Among the massive collections of tractors and steam engines, there’s plenty of space for blacksmithing. CanIRON XIV will feature open forges, expert demonstrations, blacksmithing challenges, tailgate sales, and an auction—all within walking distance of the Three Creeks campground, complete with 30-amp service and showers.

To ensure the Ag Museum was the perfect venue, the MBG hosted a trial event, ‘Scrap Smith,’ in August, and it was absolutely wonderful. The caterer was top-notch, the museum hosts were fantastic partners, and the grounds team was welcoming and enthusiastic, sharing their passion for history and the museum. Walking from our campfire to our tents and campers took only a few minutes, and the refreshing night air of the open prairies made it unforgettable.

CanIRON will have a beer garden, art expo, tailgate sales, Iron in The Hat, a Saturday auction, great food and on-site camping. This will provide a complete festival experience. Tickets are now available on the CanIRON website. Early bird tickets sales will end on January 31st. Preordering a CanIRON t-shirt helps support the event and you’ll take home a piece of the experience of CanIRON. As we lead up to the event, keep an eye open for CanIRON fundraisers.

Come for a memorable weekend of blacksmithing, learnings and camaraderie. Get your tickets at CanIRON.ca and follow the CanIRON social accounts to stay up to date with the latest information. You can also get on the mailing list for important updates.

-Justin Lamoureux (Pres. Manitoba Blacksmith Guild)