The 2007 Upper Midwest Regional Blacksmithing Conference will be held July 13 -15 at Thresherman's Reunion Park, Pontiac, Illinois.
Registration
Information
The demonstrator for Indiana Blacksmith Association is
Charles R. "Bob" Becker of Oxford, Michigan.
Bob has been blacksmithing for 24 years. He has taken classes from several masters smiths including Francis Whitaker, Nol Putnam and Ed Grove. He has been demonstrating and teaching at ABANA, Touchtone, John C. Campbell Folk School, New England of School Metals and numerous Blacksmithing affiliates conferences since 1990. At his shop, The White Horse Forge, he has been commission to do railing, gates and other architectural forging but his favorite forging is of the horse`s head. At the UMRBC this July 13-15 he will be demonstrating the use of traditional joinery in architectural and functional pieces of art. Bob will be building a sample grill at the conference this July. Please visit Bob's web site to view his work at www.whitehorseforge.com/
The demonstrator for Illinois Valley Blacksmith Association is
Chris Winterstein from Bakersville NC.
Introducing Chris Winterstein for IVBA. Featured Blacksmith for the 2007 UMRBC. Scheduled for July 13-15, 2007 in Pontiac, IL at the Threshermans Reunion Park. Chris Winterstein, lead Blacksmith and proprietor at Dirt Circus Ironworks has been blacksmithing for over ten years. He began at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, then moved to the National Ornamental Metals Museum in Memphis TN. Before returning to Western North Carolina in 2001, he worked as a journeyman with some of the top blacksmiths in the US, working on everything from Architectural Commissions to large scale public Sculpture, to restoration of historical Ironwork. He is a frequent demonstrator and teacher around the country. Chris recently finished his work as Studio Coordinator of the Iron Studio at the Penland School of Crafts, where he got the new studio up and running (twice). http://dirtcircusironworks.com/#Blacksmith
The demonstrator for Upper Midwest Blacksmith Association is
Lorelei Sims from Charleston, IL.
Lorelei Sims discovered blacksmithing after her formative years studying sculpture and metalsmithing at Eastern Illinois University. In 1993 she opened Five Points Blacksmith Shop and immediately realized she needed a lot more training! She found that with Elmer Roush in North Carolina and spent six months with him learning the basics. Today, Lorelei specializes in creating hand forged ironwork for just about anything under the sun - both in scope of projects and client location. Her work is commission for businesses and private homes throughout the United States. Public art installations can be viewed at the Omaha Botanical Gardens, Fordham University, Eastern Illinois University and the Illinois Log Cabin State Historical Site. Lorelei Sims demonstration will feature traditional techniques, the use of modern equipment and some nifty tricks to show the audience what she has learned and developed in achieving these botanical forms. She will provide insight and how to capture the visual essence of flowers, leaves, tendrils and other organic forms. Lorelei encourages and enjoys the spontaneous "on the spot" influence of the audience participating in her demonstration. Please come prepared to be part of her workshop at this year's conference. Information about her book and a portfolio of her work can be viewed at www.blacksmithchic.com