This year we are hosting an event at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Mosely Gallery.  The gallery is located at the Arts and Technology Center at 11931 Art Shell Plaza in Princess Anne, Maryland.  The opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 23, 2016 from 4 – 6 pm.  The exhibit continues through July 28.  Admission is free and summer hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10 am to 4 pm.

We are asking for items to be contributed for the gallery, anyone is welcome to offer a piece or pieces.  The types of items that are shown on the display table at the winter Gichner’s hammer-in would do well.  Items that can be on pedestals or on the floor or, depending on weight, the wall. If a piece needs to be on a wall, then the artist should be there to mount it correctly or send directions so it can mount it correctly. Security is reasonably good. Susan Holt (the director) did not have a problem with knives.

Anyone interested in contributed an item please contact Mark Williams at 410-726-4415 or 410-632-0914 or through e-mail at williamsiron@comcast.net

The Annual Bill Gichner Memorial Hammer-In at the Hutchison Brothers farm in Cordova, Maryland, will soon be here.  The event will be held on January 9 -11. This year’s demonstrator is Allan Kress from Alabama.  Allan is a full-time blacksmith from Alabama. His work is hand forged, usually in a gas forge. Inspired by nature, the work has an organic feel to it and occasionally a sense of humor. Monday January 12, there will be a copper repousse’ class, Allison Bohorfoush will be the instructor. Cost is $85 materials included in fee. This is separate event and the cost is not included in the Gichner Registration. Click here for registration form.  For more information on Allan’s work and on Allison’s Monday class click here.

Nathan Robertson of Jackpine Forge will be teaching a hammer making class again this year.  It will be held at Eric Harvey’s shop located at 8341 Black Dog Alley, Easton, MD 21601.  The class will be held Monday January 13, 2014 and runs form 9am – 5pm.  The cost is $85 per person and is limited to 10 participants.  Students will work in teams of 2 and each person will complete 1 hand hammer of their design choice.  This is a full day course and physically demanding.  Students must be able to handle an 8lb sledge hammer.  Lunch will be provided. Click here for registration.

Our demonstrator for this year’s Gichner event has been changed.  Sergiy Polubotko’s mother suffered a stroke so he will not be able to make the event.  He is being replaced with Jeff Farmer of Kentucky.  Jeff will perform several small projects and is a lively instructor.  We are grateful that he was able to fill in on short notice.  All other details of the event remain the same.  Our prayers go out to Sergiy and his family.

Today concluded the 10th annual Bill Gichner Memorial Hammer-in.  Bill Roan put on an amazing demonstration trying his best to involve the entire audience.  We watched as he took old rusted steel and forged a turtle, faces and showed us how to make forms for the power hammer.  Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates and photos from the event.

The Annual Bill Gichner Memorial Hammer-In at the Hutchison Brothers farm in Cordova, Maryland, January 4-6, 2013. This year’s demonstrator is William Roan of
Oakland, California.  Bill Roan is a well respected artist blacksmith, skillfully using traditional and more modern methods to achieve his ends. He has a wry sense of humor which makes itself apparent in some of his sculptures. He is skilled in helping others learn by doing, so you can expect to be challenged and encouraged in the production of the demonstration pieces. Passion and Power by Nancy Zastrow has a number of photos of some of his whimsical work. He is an artist whose work proclaims that you can be yourself when creating, and can expect your work to be notable and well-received.  Registration form now available.

What can we do different? That was the question posed to me the most at our most recent hammer in. Now I’m asking the membership at large the same thing. What’s the answer? We have provided world class demonstrators, a wealth of information, lots of one on one time, a perfect venue & less than 40 members attend. Please take a few minutes & try to find an appropriate answer to the question. I welcome your comments & concerns. Even though attendance was down the Tuckahoe Metal Smithing event was in the black. Thank you to those of you who attended.

Well let’s look forward to January & the Gichner Memorial Hammer In. Send in your registration early.  If you might be interested, plans are underway for a “possible“ hammer making class to be held at my shop.  This will be either Friday before or the Monday after Dave’s January event. If you are interested contact me. Also we will be hosting a plasma cutting seminar sometime either this fall or winter; probably on a Saturday at my shop.  Also sometime this Fall I am planning on spending a day in Furnace Town tuning up their power hammer & showing those folks how to safely use their plasma cutter.

On a much sadder note our old friend Hans Wendt has passed on to the Great Metal Shop in the sky. He was 75. Hans was one of my original mentors & lifelong friends that assisted me in my metal fabrication career. The things Hans taught me are too numerous to even comprehend.  He could be found at any event playing one of his many harmonica’s. or enjoying a meal or both. Always pleasant, joyous & happy; whistling was a full time event.  And when he was around the shop when he stopped whistling I knew I’d better go check on him. He was up to something. Our shop is eerily quiet now without him & that’s sad. Our old characters are leaving.  I only hope we can fill those shoes & create some new ones. Get To Work!

Eric R. Harvey

President MASA

Come join us for another great hammer-in this January 4th – 6th, at the Hutchison Brothers’ farm in Cordova, MD.  This year’s speaker is Bill Roan.  More information and registration forms coming soon.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of our own.  Hans Wendt passed away on September 6th after battling health issues.  He will be missed.  Arrangements can be found on the funeral home website:

The information and registration form for the 2012 MASA Metalsmithing Conference is available online. Click to download the MASA 2012 Conference Packet in Microsoft Word format.