Marshall Bridge Workshop Celebration

Today from 5-9 pm is the celebration for the Marshall Bridge Welding Workshops.  This is the 10th year that Stan Smokler has been offering these weeklong intensive welding workshops. 

I stopped by at the end of the week while the guys were setting up for this evening and to hang one of my pieces from a tree along the creek. Most of the work is within the "walls" so when you come this evening remember to "step outside" and see my 3 pieces.

This is the first piece I did during the week.  Found that fabulous
netting a.k.a. fencing that you will see in all 3 pieces at the end of this post.
I envision this pond side in my backyard.

Artist and workshop techie Bob Bickey made this piece for Stan to commemorate this auspicious occasion, we all signed in limestone chalk and Bob torched our signatures.  

Love the shadow cast by this sculpture by
another participant Maureen McCarthy

The SPACE... where most of the work is. 

But then... step "outside" to see the "Nanci Hersh's"

One view of my 3 pieces...
A pedestal piece, a floor or ground piece... and then
a hanging piece.

I made the hanging piece as a structure to hang my wire and pulp nets... but am rethinking that. The piece works by itself and I did end up making a much simpler structure that could work for the smaller nets...

so many possibilities... bazinga!

Welding Sculpture Celebration

Please join us if you are in the area. I will have 3 pieces on exhibit in this beautiful setting.

Also stopped in on this week's workshop and saw this week's participants busy at work. There will be lots of interesting wonderful work to see and lots of food and drink to share.

Extra Set of Hands

Workshops, both teaching, and attending, are an important and integral part of my art practice.  

photo by Gabe Rothwell
©2013RothwellCreativeCarborundum

I love the exchange of ideas and energy with everyone involved and as in last week's Marshall Bridge Welding Workshop with Stan Smokler. This year's two workshops mark Stan's 10th anniversary holding these workshops at his rustic and beautiful Kennett Square studio. 

An accomplished sculptor, a generous hands on teacher and the host with the most, including lunches, plenty of water, goggles, ear plugs, safety glasses, cool scarf or welding hat, and a t-shirt. 

He also makes sure we have all the help we need.  With 10 participants for each week, salvaged steel, and some pretty intimidating equipment, it was Stan's techs who were often our "go to" guys, our extra set of hands and the technical know how that kept us safe and out of trouble.

Artist and sculptor Dennis Beach has been helping out at Stan's workshops for years. Here he is giving me an extra set of hands.

photo by Gabe Rothwell
©2013RothwellCreativeCarborundum

By the end of each day I was physically exhausted but also energized, and had a hard time sleeping I was so excited at night. Now a week later, my one small burn on the top of my hand and  the cut I got on my index finger are healing, I am catching up on my sleep and bringing some new ideas into my studio.

Even my beloved Patagonia hat that I have had for 18 years and wore
while welding to keep my bandana on is finally clean again!
Here's to new beginnings!

Hot, Sweaty, and Having Fun.

Today was the final day of my Marshall Bridge Welding Workshop with Stan Smokler.  

The week was hot, we were sweating and we had incredible fun.

5 full days of welding in a picturesque setting along a creek with Stan's sculptures sprinkled on the banks,  all the materials we could find or salvage, all the tools- MIG and torch welders, a plasma cutter (my personal favorite), a forge and expert technical assistance from Stan and his techs that he brings to the workshop every year.... Dennis Beach, Kevin Bielicki, Bob Bickey and Jeffrey Bell. Artists in their own right, hardworking on our behalf and very accommodating for the fortunate 10 of us.

Yep, that's me!

There were coolers of ice cold water and a great lunch every day!  Today was sushi followed by a critique- which was really an opportunity for us to see each others work since most of the time we had our goggles on and our noses in our own work.

Welding builds up an appetite and it sure feels good to sit down!

Stan has another week of workshops coming up followed by an exhibition/ party of the works created open to the public.

Want to see what I made this week? Guess you'll have to come to the party!