26 West All Saints Street
Frederick
Maryland 21701
The Frederick Department of Art will be opening its doors to the public for our Third Annual Open Studio! Come see demos by Caitlin Morris of Ms. Caitlin’s School of Blacksmithing, as well as Metalsmith and Maskmaker, Kest Schwartzman. Don’t miss this opportunity to peek into downtown’s only blacksmithing school, and pick up some gifts for the holidays. If you’re looking for a truly unique present for a local friend, Ms. Caitlin’s School will be selling gift certificates for classes, and if you need something more shippable, both smiths will have their handmade work for sale. For those not looking specifically to shop, there will be blacksmithing and coppersmithing demos throughout the day, as well as inevitable short dance parties, because that’s how these two do things.
Kest Schwartzman has a BFA in metals from Massachusetts College of Art. Since then, as Vagabond Metalworks she has worked almost entirely with copper, learning to collaborate very closely with the metal. She combines old and new hammering techniques to create the visual softness of draped fabric in a material tough enough for everyday wear. Every piece- mask or jewelry- is its own wearable sculpture –each has its own personality and name– and feels as fantastic on the body as it looks on a wall. Her masks are based on real animals, fairytale sidekicks, nightmares, and novels. She has work in private collections around the world, as well as galleries and even a few museums around the USA.
Caitlin Morris hangs out with the misfits and scallywags. She sings loudly and out of tune. She is partial to walks in the rain. But the most important thing is this: Caitlin loves blacksmithing.
The Vermont native runs Ms. Caitlin’s School in Downtown Frederick, MD, which is dedicated to sharing the craft with as many unsuspecting people as possible. She also teaches at other schools across the country. When you first put hammer to hot steel, you want Caitlin there to guide, mentor, and inspire you. She’s good at lighting fires.
Details:
The Frederick Department of Art is at 26 West All Saints Street. Frederick, MD 21701. It will be open to the public from 12pm to 7pm on Friday and Saturday, November 23rd and 24th. Demos will be around 2pm and 4pm each day.
