#i was so so proud of this welding artwork i did and my professors and students even praised it

[sinha-ri]

There's something worse about someone not caring for your art work and showing it through their actions that ignoring it or saying they hate it

[shellymetals-blog]

Recognition of the two that baited and then hooked me into Blacksmithing – So glad to still be friends!

Ms. Elizabeth Brim and Mr. Kirk McNeill, and with many thanks to my very talented undergraduate professors Mrs. Marilyn and Mr. Jack Da Silva

In 2004 (or maybe, 2005), toward the end of my freshman (or possibly sophomore) year in undergraduate studies of Metals and Jewelry at California College of the Arts and Crafts my professors Marilyn and Jack Da Silva invited me along to attend my very first California Blacksmith Association conference in Petaluma, California. I always completed the projects set forth for me but I was often told by Marilyn and Jack, “Shelly, you hammer on everything, perhaps you should meet the blacksmiths.” At first, I honestly felt a little in-different but was excited for the exposure into another form of metalsmithing. That conference however has changed my world forever! It opened me to the possibility and desire to become one of them. 

At first I sat along the side lines watching the beautiful southern bell named Elizabeth Brim. Her long braid tied in a bow, pearls around her neck and southern twang mesmerized me as I watched her inflate a steel welded pillow into form. Next, I went over to the demonstration area where Kirk McNeill was. His style of teaching was so approachable and digestible. Honestly at this point I have learned so much from Kirk, I can’t quite remember what that first demo was. Nonetheless, upon meeting them both after their demonstrations were done I felt so blessed to have conversations with them! It was as if I was just meeting the Hollywood stars of the blacksmithing community right off the bat! So lucky and in debited did I feel, and still do! I am so honored to say that they have continued as friends, mentors and supporters for the path I am on.

 Shortly after that conference I worked directly with Kirk McNeill and Lester Markarian at a Penland-like art camp for adults put on by Jack DaSilva called Maker which was held in the woods of California at a YMCA camp. I was blessed to be Kirk and Lester’s assistant in the blacksmithing class. This really solidified my desire to take up blacksmithing! They taught me to make my first hammer, drift and guided me in making my first leaf belt buckle that I still wear to this day. Both of these gentlemen were perfectly macho and tough in the sense that they were fabulous blacksmiths but realistically they were more like a guiding light that acted sweet, silly and kind of like a quirky teddy bear with no sense of misogynistic testosterone towards a young female that that wanted to learn. I owe both Kirk and Lester a lot of dues for my continuation in this field of metalsmithing and art making. Being that I continued to live in California past undergrad I interacted with the both of these gems frequently. 

 It was many years later in 2012, that I traveled to Penland, North Carolina and re-kindled my friendship with the beautiful and inspiring Elizabeth Brim. I was lucky enough to be asked to assist a class taught by another dear friend and bad ass lady smith, Shawn Lovell out of Oakland/Berkeley, California. Just recently, now in graduate school at SIUC, my head professor Rick Smith had a whole slew of us students up to his property just a few miles away from Pendland and Spruce Pine, North Carolina where there is an annual blacksmithing conference called “Fire on the Mountain”. Elizabeth has always been kind and supportive to anyone that wants to continue in blacksmithing regardless of gender but I have always had a sweet spot for her because she helped show me there is a place and way into this male dominated field. On top of that Elizabeth is a huge fan of 2-Pac which is just perfectly out of character unless you get to know her!

 Ok, now onto why they are relevant to this blog and my socially engaged art class, 

Elizabeth Brim has played a major key role in the development and continuation of Penland School of Crafts Iron studio. She herself teaches classes here and assists in bringing in top of the line contemporary blacksmiths to teach classes. In her own work, she has made a large body of blacksmith work that depicts a strong female presence. She has created iron high heels, iron aprons, iron frilly umbrellas, iron pillows and so much more. She has made a deliberate statement that iron work or blacksmithing is not just for the boys! Her work is absolutely beautiful and her execution of craft is top notch but beyond all of that she is a strong, sweet, tough woman. Quiet the role model for me and many other women taking on this craft as an art form.

Kirk McNeill has two projects I want to discuss here. He has made plenty more however two of his most recent works really hit home for me. The first is an environmental awareness piece called “Sharky-go-Round” and the second is a feminist/activist piece called “The Safety Pin Project”. “Sharky-go-Round” is a massive kinetic sculpture that was featured this last year at Burning man 2016, held at Black Rock City Desert in Nevada. This sculpture took so many hours, busted backs and hands to complete. There were countless weekends that numerous blacksmiths showed up to Kirk’s shop and volunteered to work on this project as well as install this humongous sculpture in the middle of the no-where desert. This is by no means Kirks first environmental piece but for this one he was wanting to bring light to the human decimation of the shark population. Not only was the art piece socially created but he also made shirts promoting his message, they read, “Stop Shark Finning! Humans kill 100 million sharks every year for soup. Sharks kill less than 10 humans every year, mostly by mistake”. The sculpture was beautiful and was lit up at night, it was quite the sight in both day light and at night. Hopefully people will consider what they eat and the impact they have on the animals and creatures of this world beyond their own human existence. 

“The Safety Pin Project” is possibly the most masculine feminist activist work I have seen in my lifetime. Once again Kirk invited many volunteer blacksmiths to come assist in his shop to create these oversized safety pins. The pins were an awareness and activist raising project that donated the proceeds to his local Planned Parenthood. Female rights in regard to health and choices have come under the chopping block with this current political administration. I am so happy and proud to know a white male that is standing up and saying “NO!” to the destruction of these human and female rights! Below is Kirk’s writing for the art show and reasoning for his “Safety Pin Project”

“The Safety Pin Project:

 A Fundraiser for Planned Parenthood Art Exhibit and Sale

 April 7 – May 12, 2017

 Coffeetopia, 1723 Mission Street, Santa Cruz

There will be a soft opening for the exhibit on April 7th from 4:00-6:00 PM, and an official First Friday reception on Friday, the 5th of May, from 4:00–8:00 PM. The safety pin sculptures will be on sale for $350.00. Of that amount, $300.00 from each sale will be donated to Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, the local Planned Parenthood affiliate.

Following the Brexit vote in Britain last year, there was a surge of racial hate crimes. Many people in the UK began wearing safety pins attached prominently on their outer clothing to show that they were “safe” and standing in solidarity with those being attacked. 

 Since our election here in the U.S. in November, there has been a similar surge in hate crimes here. Many Americans have adapted the safety pin to our own situation here. They are worn as a sign to anyone threatened by the increasing hate and fear in our sadly divided country that the wearer is not among those committing or sympathizing with these acts. They are also intended to show compassion and support for immigrants, LGBTQ, and other at-risk groups. 

 Along with my generous and talented crew of volunteers, I have been working on the architectural-scale safety pin project for a couple of months, always envisioning it as a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood — another threatened entity. 

 If a pin on your coat shows you to be a safe person, a pin on your home shows it to be a safe home.

” By: Kirk McNeill

Both Elizabeth Brim and Kirk McNeill give me much to aspire to. Again, I am honored to know them, share the amazing things I know of them and their artwork and channel their support towards larger political, social, activist works I foresee myself creating.  

I love my bad ass blacksmith family! 

 Elizabeth Brim http://www.elizabethbrim.com 

 Kirk McNeill   http://www.freedom-forge.com