The Madness Is Coming!

Plan now to attend our 36th annual Fall Conference to be held at the Little Log House Antique Power Show grounds just south of Hastings, Minnesota from September 20 through September 22, 2013. Follow the Google map link above to see the location.

The Conference Brochure 2013 is available to download and print to share with those who may be interested. Also available is the TGOM 2013 Fall Conference flyer to print and hang on bulletin boards.

One item to keep a watchful eye on will be a pre-conference candelabra class on September 19 and 20 to be taught by well-known metalsmith Mark Pearce, one of our demonstrators this year. Registration information is here!

We have contracted with two well-known names in metalsmithing to demonstrate their abilities at our conference. They are Mark Pearce and Clay Spencer.

Mark started blacksmithing in August of 1983, attended Hereford Technical College for general smithing and then went on to Salisbury COSIRA College for wrought iron smiths. Most of Mark’s work in England was traditional restoration blacksmithing involving forge welding, riveting and upsetting to repair or duplicate components on church gates, cathedral railings, which included work at the Sandringham Estate for the Royal family.

Before retiring from Marshall Space Flight Center as an engineer on the Shuttle Program, Clay Spencer started blacksmithing with Jim Batson and took many classes at John C. Campbell Folk School. Clay was active in the Alabama Forge Council as forge master, Conference Chairman and served as writer and editor of “The Bituminous Bits” for 10 years. He served on the ABANA Board for several years and received the Alex Bealer Award (ABANA’s highest award) and Life Membership in ABANA in 1997.