Metalsmithing For The Artist Craftsman With Illustrations

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

Forty-one craftspeople answer the questions of who, what, when, where, and how he or she started and maintains a career in the arts. Accompanied by more than 260 photos showing the artists, their work spaces, and their creations, each interview gives experience-based answers to anyone interested in the lives of artists. For students and career changers to makers at all levels, this resource captures insight into the entrepreneurial nature of living a life in the arts--and the choices, bits of luck, joys, and tenacity one needs to overcome hurdles in useful and surprising ways. The 41 artists from across the United States work in many types of media; they include, for example, woodturner Dixie Biggs, fiber artist Carol Eckert, metalsmith Pat Flynn, glass artist Judith Schaecter, and ceramist Mara Superior. As their answers unfold, what develops is a collection of independent voices that follow unique, creative journeys in the arts, despite the twists and turns life takes. This distillation of expertise is a valuable resource to all who are considering a creative career.