Tunnel Mill Workshop - Chasing & Repoussé

I presented a workshop on Chasing & Repoussé at Tunnel Mill May 3rd-5th. I got back Saturday night and am still trying to catch up on family, housework, garden work and studio work. Tunnel Mill is a wonderful blacksmith/metalsmithing shop set out in the woods near Rochester, Minnesota, close to Stewartville. John and Carol Adams run workshops there when they are not working at their welding business in Rochester. They've restored an Old Mill into a beautiful cabin with dormitory style lodging upstairs. They've added two cute gypsy wagons, crafted by John, as private accomodations. You can see it here http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitsteel/486587940/. (I haven't quite figured out how to blog a flickr photo yet.) The bathhouse has modern plumbing and is shared by all.

The students spent all of Thursday making their tools, choosing their design, laying it out and starting the initial forming process. Friday and Saturday they spent the entire time tapping away at their bronze sheet metal, turning flat leaf drawings into lifelike 3D images popping out of the metal. They really did a fantastic job. Here are some photos of us throughout the workshop.

All of the students were primarily blacksmiths except Kathy. She works more in a jewelry scale, although I'm not sure if she makes jewelry or other types of objects. She discovered how wonderful the pneumatic hammer is for this type of work and used it effortlessly. It does take some skill to use it well, but she caught on right away.



Steve had some great insights into the relationship of the body, proper ergonomics, and the way so many of the concepts fall right into place with the body-use concepts of the martial arts.




This student came in with a tool & die background. He did a great job, though seemed skeptical of his results. He hammered fearlessly.



John, our host.




The Architect and wonderful conversationalist. He knows so much about art, architecture, and is full of joy.



Myself, taking the opportunity to get some work done!







Our host again. You can get a glimpse of the beauty surrounding us, spring in Minnesota.



annealing



more annealing



general studio shot- or is that a workshop....



Outside working space



Examples of 2 bloodroot leaf variations. I love to see each student's interpretation and how widely they can vary.

Minnesota blacksmiths, and Minnesota artists in general are philosophers. They will wake up early and stay up late, chatting- not small talk, but real conversation. Coffee first, wine later, surrounded by the first spring violets and lilacs about to bloom. I'm inspired and energized.