Public Event Schedule 2012

Latest Update : January 2012 - Dates are tentative
Many of the 2012 activities will similar to past years, the dates are approximately the same.
For more details on the specific events, use the links provided.

(Note that most of these take you off the Wareham Forge series.)

Detailed Information on this year's courses at the Wareham Forge can be found HERE

2012 Year at a glance
This table shows all of the year's (potential!) activities and will quickly let you see everything on the timetable

22nd Annual Symposium
Saturday March 31

Bricker Academic Building, Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo Ontario

For more information on the event go to the FITP web site

Introduction to Blacksmithing
at the WAREHAM FORGE

April 4, 5, 6

47th Annual Symposium
May 10 - 13

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

For more information on the event go to the ICMS web site

June 1& 2

(Friday evening - Saturday)

Detailed Information on this special course can be found HERE

June 15, 16, 17

Image by P. Halasz

the Dark Ages Re-creation Company L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC Thursday July 19 - Friday July 27, 2012 'Celebrating Norwegian Achievements' Watch for Details as this program develops!

Image by P. Halasz

EARTH, AIR, FIRE & WATER : CELTIC ROOTS FESTIVAL

Goderich

the CELTIC COLLEGE

August 6 - 9

I been involved with the Celtic College since its inception. I normally offer  a number of hands on courses and sessions as part of this successful program - including the infamous Artist's Extravaganza (evening 'cultural' session with An Droichead):

(Tentative Course Offering - 2012) Ancient Iron : Smelter to Forge in the Celtic Iron Age Note : Approval and details of this program still under consideration. The Celts were one of the first primary 'Iron Age' cultures, with iron the materials for tools, weapons and decorative objects. How was iron actually made? Then having an iron bar, how did they work it? This is an intensive program, limited to four students. A historic style charcoal ground pit forge will be built, using hand bellows for air, and small artifact type block anvils. Students will directly experience the challenges this equipment presents by making a number of simple objects. Work will includemaking a cloak broach and simple knife blade, working with actual antique wrought iron. On the last day of the program, students will build an actual iron smelting furnace. They will also assist in preparing materials for a full demonstration smelt to take place Saturday at the Festival. This is a day long special event to mark the 20th anniversary, which interested students will be able to directly take part in. Requirements: Students must wear long pants and closed shoes to class, other safety equipment will be provided. Previous experience blacksmithing helpful, but not required. Materials fee: There is an additional course fee of $20 (per student) to cover charcoal and wrought iron materials. This will be a half day session, Monday through Thursday (exact time periods to be determined) Those students interested in pre-booking this course should contact me via e-mail.

I have had a booth in the Artisans area since the very first year of the Festival - making me the only visual artist to have attended every year of the Festival's 20 year history.
Again this year expect a display of both functional and artistic pieces with Celtic inspiration - with a special focus on wind powered pieces for the GARDEN.
In keeping with the special demonstration planned to mark the anniversary, I will be presenting my new work forged from bloomery iron

Bloomery Iron Smelt Note : Approval and details of this program still under consideration. As in past years, the featured demonstration will echo the courses offered at the Celtic Colllege. A cornerstone for Festival goers, Darrell's ongoing demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday afternoon always education and entertain. Although best known from their cast bronze artifacts, the Celts were one of the first primary Iron Age cultures. It was iron, forged into tools and weapons, which allowed the Celts to have such a dramatic impact on all of Europe. But just how did they make iron in the first place? I turns out that the exact processes used by the ancients are unknown, for our modern methods are vastly different. To mark the 20th Anniversary of the Earth, Air, Fire and Water Festival, a unique demonstration is planned. One which will employ these forces at their most elemental level. Drawing on over a decade of experimental archaeology research, a team will build, prepare, then fire, an ancient syled bloomery iron furnace. This process will take some 8 hours, culminating in the extraction of 5 - 10 kg white hot bloom mass. Supported by individuals from the Dark Ages Re-creation Company, Darrell is the single most experienced 'iron master' in Canada, and one of the very few working with these techniques in North America.

Compacting the hot bloom Quad State, Ohio, 2008

Join me for look at the work of the Artisan Metalsmith- and how it relates to the Celtic Iron Age.

Summerfolk Kelso Beach Park, Owen Sound August 17 - 19 Look for me at a the new location, still on the Beach - but now along closer to the Pub. New work includes objects made from bloomery iron, including forged bowls. Look for a special desplay featuring the undersea world of my 'Hallucigenia' series and of course other garden features! For more information- go to the Summerfolk web site

2011 Booth Presentation