Metalsmithing For The Artist Craftsman

A guide to do it yourself metal smithing, in four parts forming, joining and surface treatment of metals, and general shop information.

A guide to do it yourself metal smithing, in four parts forming, joining and surface treatment of metals, and general shop information.

"A master artist and teacher of metalwork presents a bold new approach to creative expression in metal. Believing that the time has come for the artist to free himself from the functional forms that have dominated the metalsmith's craft -- the cup, the box, the pitcher, etc. -- Heikki Seppä urges the craftsman to create in terms of pure form, and in this book he shows him how...The book is profusely illustrated throughout with the author's own sketches of the ideas and techniques discussed. It will be of significant value to the accomplished craftsman as well as to teachers and advanced students of this exciting and growing art form." --P. [4] of cover.

The history of contemporary American metalsmithing is inextricably linked with the academy. Since the 1950s, nearly every significant artist working in metals has trained at a university or art school--fertile ground for innovation and exploration in metalsmithing and jewelry making. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's metals program is among the best in the nation, founded on the teaching legacy of Fred Fenster and Eleanor Moty, who instilled in their students a profound respect for craftsmanship, technical innovation, formal integrity, and thoughtful design. The work in this catalogue encompasses hollowware and jewelry, wearable sculpture, poetic and narrative objects, and conceptual installations. The show at the Chazen Museum of Art was produced by guest curator Jody Clowes