Appalachian Center for Craft 
Weekend Workshops (May/June)
May 14-16
Dragons & More
Steve Williamson
Fee: $330
Skill Level: Intermediate (Required: minimum of one prior introductory blacksmithing class)
Materials Fee: $20, payable to instructor
Instructor Contact:
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or 931.374.1190
Description:
Learn to forge dragon head forms and make the tools necessary to complete the process. Newly made tools may also be used with other projects.
Steve Williamson is a full-time blacksmith and operates a shop in Columbia, Tennessee. Williamson has been a blacksmith for 20 years; current projects include restoring decorative ironwork at the Nashville Cemetery.
May 21-23
Basics of Blacksmithing
Joe Brown
Fee: $330
Skill Level: Beginning
Materials Fee: $15, payable to instructor
Instructor Contact:
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Description:
Learn basic blacksmithing techniques and processes. Students will make several project pieces while developing hammer control, learning fire management, and appropriate tool usage.
Joe Brown is a full-time artist blacksmith and operates Brownview Forge in Readyville, Tennessee. His primary focus is interior and exterior forged ironwork for homes and businesses throughout Tennessee. His “nature forms” are the most popular themes in his work.
May 28-30
Drawing with Iron
Eric Smith
Fee: $330
Skill Level: Beginning
Instructor Contact:
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or 931.267.8073
Description:
Students will learn and use forge-welding and traditional joinery techniques to make either a small window grill or belt buckle.
A graduate of the Appalachian Center for Craft, Eric Smith now lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a working artist/blacksmith.
June 4-6
Tools & Treasures
Jack Wheeler
Fee: $330
Skill Level: Beginning-Intermediate
Instructor Contact:
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Description:
Students will create one or more decorative and/or functional pieces. Some small tools required for the projects will also be made. Based on time available, students may also work on personally designed items.
Jack Wheeler has practiced the craft of blacksmithing for 20+ years. He has trained at the John C. Campbell Folk School and other facilities, and has taught blacksmithing workshops at the Choo Choo Forge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, since the early 90s.
NEW Three-Week Intensive in Blacksmithing*
*OPTIONAL: This workshop is available for 3 university credit hours; credit hour fees are in addition to workshop fee.
June 14**-July 2
Swords: Fact & Fiction
Robert Coogan
Fee: $1,950
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced (Required: forging experience)
Materials Fee: $100 (basic kit; students may purchase more supplies as necessary), payable to instructor
Instructor Contact:
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Description:
While reviewing historical examples of a variety of swords, the class will examine the form, function and construction of swords from around the world. We will work towards the recreation of various styles of swords with focus on the forged blades and heat-treating process.
The blades made will be of a medium size in order to have enough studio time to create a number of different blades. The class will start with European-style blades and finish with a laminated, Japanese-style blade. Throughout the workshop, we will also be looking at the development of blade styles, how they were used, and why the different styles were developed.
Robert Coogan came to the Appalachian Center for Craft in 1980 and has been the head of the Metals Department since 1981. He received MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and BA from Humboldt State University. Coogan one of the most sought out workshop instructors in the U.S., and has taught over 150 workshops across the country and around the world. He is the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship to teach in England, and in 2008, was awarded a Tennessee Artist Craftsman fellowship.
Coogan continues to be an innovative, producing artist with numerous exhibitions every year and is acknowledged as one of the leading practitioners in Mokume-Gane and Damascus steel. His work is represented in numerous museum, corporate and private collections. Coogan’s work is exhibited nationally and internationally, and is featured in numerous books and publications.
**Workshop check-in is Sunday, June 13, 2010; class begins Monday, June 14 @ 9am.
Six-day Workshops (July*)
*OPTIONAL: July, six-day workshops are available for 1 university credit hour; credit hour fees are in addition to workshop fee.
July 11-16
Handmade Knives
Don Fogg
Fee: $550
Skill Level: Beginning
Instructor Contact:
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Students will learn to forge, file, harden and handle a knife in this introductory knife-making workshop.
ABS mastersmith, Don Fogg has taught bladesmithing for many years in the U.S. and abroad. His work is featured in numerous books and magazines.
July 18-23
Damascus Steel
Bill Fiorini
Fee: $550
Skill Level: All Skill Levels
Instructor Contact:
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This workshop will be a concentration in Pattern Welded Steel (Damascus). Beginning students will learn the processes for forge welding various types of steel together in order to develop Damascus steel. Advanced techniques will be discussed and processed by advanced students.
Bill Fiorini is Emeritus Professor of Art at University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse. He is a Master-Smith in the American Blacksmith Society and has published numerous articles on processing Damascus steel. He also has studied sword-smithing and traditional metal arts in Japan over the last 18 years, including working with the Ehomoto Family in Mishing and Shogo Asai in Tokyo.
