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  • July 12, 2020 9:07 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Herb Upham, CBA Board Member from 2002 to 2020, past CBA President from 2006 through 2010, CBA Secretary from 2012 through 2019, and instructor at his CBA teaching forge for 15 years passed away on Saturday, June 13 surrounded by his loving family. His patient ear and generous heart will be sorely missed, as well as his experience and wisdom in his classroom forge. He was a pillar for the CBA. He helped lead us and keep us on track to provide consistent membership services and offerings at numerous events and educational opportunities over many years. 

    Herb’s Forge, a learning center for those fortunate enough to travel to his classes in rural Sebastopol, was a starting point for many a smith, and responsible for helping build CBA support in this part of California. His shop was well organized with instructional manuals, multiple workstations, and expansion plans to wheel out extra forges and anvils always at the ready. Attendees also got to enjoy spectacular views of Sonoma County from atop this western hilltop vista. 

    Herb is survived by his wife, Shirley Upham, whom you have probably met if you have gone to any CBA conferences. She was the one checking you in with Herb at the registration table, at his side. If you won a raffle prize or ate a meal at a CBA conference, know that Shirley had a hand in it.

    Condolences can be sent to Craig Litwin (secretary@calsmith.org); he will forward them to Herb's family.

    Thank you, Herb, for your wonderful contributions to helping that new student find the spark within to light the forge. Your style of encouragement is an attribute we hope our whole world adopts. 

    You will be missed, and remembered.

  • July 10, 2019 7:56 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Our shop mysteriously burned down about 2am the morning of July 4th.

    We are working with the Museum to recover what we can. 

    Rebuilding may be a challenge with new codes.

    The city of Santa Ana and the general public are on our side, new code may make it difficult.

    The show of support from the blacksmith community is encouragement to move on with a rebuild.

    We will set up a donation plan as soon as we know we are able to rebuild.

    Thank You All,

    Orange County Blacksmith,

    Ken Kurtz

  • May 17, 2019 5:52 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Tributaries: Monica Coyne

    July 7 – September 29, 2019

    Keeler Gallery at the Metal Museum

     The Metal Museum is pleased to announce Tributaries: Monica Coyne, the next exhibition in the Tributaries series. Tributaries: Monica Coyne will open on Sunday, July 7 and run through Sunday, September 29, 2019. The Museum will host a reception and gallery talk with the artist on Sunday, July 14 at 3pm with the gallery talk beginning at 4pm. In addition to the exhibition, Monica will be leading a small class in the Metals Studio.

    Monica Coyne is an artist-blacksmith based in rural California. She is traditionally trained in woodworking, which can be seen in the design and execution of forged joinery in her pieces. Living in both urban and rural environments created questions that Monica addresses with her work. Her figurative sculptures are inspired by man’s place in the natural environment, drawing connections between the state of human progress and the value of the wild around us.

    “This mixture of carbon and iron that humans have been playing with for thousands of years, this ancient alchemy, lights up my mind like nothing else. By understanding ancient processes, I push toward something new,” says the artist. “My work has always been an experiment in altering my own perception of what a bar of steel represents. I formed the hot steel and as it cooled, I would catch a glimpse of stretching skin. When the pressure of the drift expanded the hole, I could see fat swelling into a breast. My figures are shaped from the perfectly dimensioned bar that comes from one of our most historically important industries.”

    Monica studied Industrial Arts at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California in 1987, and her work has been featured in numerous publications including Elementum Journal (UK), Fine Homebuilding Magazine (USA), HEPHAISTOS (Germany), The Anvil’s Ring (USA), and NOMMA (USA).

    Photo credits are in the PDF document -  TributariesMonicaCoyne.pdf


  • March 21, 2018 9:51 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Make and Bring Your Windchime for the Windchime Contest

  • March 18, 2018 4:12 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Sign Up for Wearable Art Contest for 2018 Spring Conference - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7CGW2K7

    To see more information on  Wearable Art Contest check the Spring Conference 2018 event.

  • July 23, 2017 8:43 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Blacksmithing-Beginning to Advanced

    Taught by Joy Fire

  • June 07, 2017 11:41 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Want your blacksmithing skills to make a difference in the world? Want to help restore and preserve the historic architecture of one of the most beautiful cities in the world? Join us in training a skill-hungry and passionate metalworking community in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from February to March 8, 2018.

    More info

  • May 09, 2017 10:06 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Mark Kochan was elected President of CBA, replacing John McLellan.

  • December 12, 2016 11:02 PM | Julia Stepro (Administrator)

    Video From Jerry Coe, Coe Studios, Berkeley

    I was privileged to be shown this old shop recently. The smith worked here from 1889-1955 then died and his family closed the shop. When I saw it no one had worked or really been inside in 61 years. It was like walking through a time tunnel. I wanted to identify the tools and their uses for the Historical Library. Credit for filming and editing should go to Rob Reiter of the Lightroom in Berkeley, CA.

    The Henry Haus Blacksmith Shop

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