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Author Topic:   Calling All silversmiths goldsmiths or metalsmiths
Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 06-04-2004 03:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you are or know a working/retired silversmith goldsmith or metalsmith please send me the smiths contact info. Info@SMPub.com We are in the early stages of a project that might be of interest to smiths.

In a few weeks we hope to have something to announce.

Thank you.

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mefecit

Posts: 7
Registered: Mar 2004

iconnumber posted 06-15-2004 07:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mefecit     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hello: I am a full time metalsmith , 25 years . What do you need to know? Daniel Tokar , mefecit@aol.com , or , info@metalsmith.biz . Web site is not up as yet , just a contact page.
Bye

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 10-15-2004 02:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As of today, only six smiths have been in contact. We need to hear from a few more smiths (10+) to move this project forward.

Please invite any smiths you know (even if they aren't on the Internet) to contact us.

Thanks

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Callie

Posts: 93
Registered: Mar 2002

iconnumber posted 10-15-2004 04:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Callie     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Scott

What is the nature of this project? I would like to tell my Canadian silversmith contacts about this, but would like to tell them a little more. Maybe more response that way?

Callie

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 10-15-2004 05:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
We have been batting around the idea for a new a Silver Salon Forum. The working title is "Living Silversmiths". The basic idea is it would be a forum for living Silversmiths to show off and to discuss their works.

The "Living Silversmiths" forum will be open to the public to read but only smiths who join and moderators will be able to post/respond. The intent is to provide a place for smiths to discuss their own and each others works. And then to provide a place for the public to become familiar with the smiths and their works. Discussions will hopefully include what inspires, the difficulties/pleasures of being a smith today, attracting sponsors, grants, exhibitions, commissions and the things that effect working smiths. I would not want it to become a place where techniques are discussed in any great detail. Generally, the discussions should not leave the non-smith wondering what was said.

Within the ""Living Silversmiths" forum, member smiths may post/respond freely. The public would submit any questions/posts via e-mail to the "Living Silversmiths" moderators (like letters to the editor in a magazine). Then the "Living Silversmiths" forum moderator(s) will select/edit and/or help clarify what is being said/asked and post it to an existing thread or start a new thread. These "letters" hopefully will become a catalyst for some interesting discussions.

I think there should be some prerequisites for becoming a member smith. Exactly what I don't know but generally: (note: I will seek additional /different suggestions from the initial member smiths about what makes sense.)

  • A smith must be able to demonstrate that they are a working smith. Whether this is a body of work or acceptance by the art/business world or something else still needs to be determined.

  • I only have one basic requirement that I would like to see happen. That the smith must have a unique maker's mark. To join the "Living Silversmiths" forum the smith would have to submit a photographic example of their mark and at least one photo example of their work. With this I will create a separate web page (index of participants) showing their name, the mark, the sample work and any other biographical info they want to provide (i.e., photo, bio, awards,etc.) .

I have other thoughts but would like to bounce them around with the "Living Silversmiths" forum moderator(s) and the other SSF moderators. Fredz has volunteered to co-moderate and Brent has lent his support and is considering co-moderating.

We are sure there is a non-smith audience for a "Living Silversmiths" Forum. We are also certain that the majority of non-smiths will be lurkers (readers) and will not actively participate. So for this project to proceed it will require some number of smiths to join the project and then to actively participate.

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Callie

Posts: 93
Registered: Mar 2002

iconnumber posted 10-15-2004 05:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Callie     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Scott, another thought. Are you including Canadians in this project? If so, would posting this query on the Canadian forum help? That's what I was going to do, after getting more details from you.

Callie


==========================
Callie,

The proposed name for the forum is "Living Silversmiths". So I don't think it will matter where they are from only that they are living and breathing.
As per the Guidelines, please no duplicate posts in different forums.

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agleopar

Posts: 850
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 10-18-2004 11:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for agleopar     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Scott, a thought that needs wiser heads to assess, but could it be interesting for the non smiths to hear those technical discussions, especially if they were held with non-smiths in mind ( after all it is not rocket science, my apologies to the more rigorous than I silver intellectuals)? Where ever I go (such as Williamsburg) people are fascinated by the process. Could there be a place for technical chit chat and questions that I would like to have and would not mind others listening to? Or could the conversations eventually be compiled into a compendium of technical reference?

The Living smiths idea is great and perhaps the above is a distraction from a bigger and better whole?

A thought on a critical mass, perhaps an initial vetted group could then nominate smiths they are confident about and they in turn etc., pyramid, etc....

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 10-18-2004 02:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It is fascinating to watch almost any raw material being crafted into an object of beauty. I am sure that nearly everyone would find it difficult not to watch the making process. A non-smith glossary of the basic terms and technics with examples would also be very much appreciated and found to be useful.

June’s/my interests and understanding of the smiths techniques might be better than most non-smiths. In fact, in my very early years, I use to make and sell items I made as a blacksmith.

A few years ago June and I attended a day long series of lectures, demonstrations and classes for silversmiths. Each 1-2 hour session would start out fabulous. In the first 10-15 minutes the presenter would give a brief explanation and demonstration of what would be in store for the next 2 hours. After the intro the rest of presentation was just too subtle and detailed for us non-smiths to grasp. For example, there are many approaches to folding/unfolding silver. I would guess we heard about a dozen or more different methods/technics for folding silver but to us it was just more of the same folding/unfolding silver. So we understood that as well as we were ever going to after the first 15 minutes.

I don’t think smiths could nor should they avoid discussions of technic. So I agree with you and would hope that any technical discussion in this particular forum would be “held with non-smiths in mind”.

Once the "Living Silversmiths" forum is going, if it becomes evident that there is a need for other thematic forums then the new forums can be started. Once started, we can move any relevant posts in the "Living Silversmiths" forum to the new forum (for example: "Living Smiths Techniques" forum).

You are right about this project needing a critical mass of smiths to get started. Please contact and recommend this project to other smiths.

Thanks for the input.


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agleopar

Posts: 850
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 10-19-2004 07:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for agleopar     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Scott, point taken and agreed apon, hope this gets going and will work on others to join in.

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akgdc

Posts: 289
Registered: Sep 2001

iconnumber posted 10-19-2004 10:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for akgdc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would be very interested to read such a forum, but I have one question/concern: Why block non-silversmiths from posting and responding?

I'm sure that many of the collectors and scholars among us will have questions about technical matters that might spark some good discussions.

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 10-19-2004 11:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
I'm sure that many of the collectors and scholars among us will have questions about technical matters that might spark some good discussions.

I am sure and hope you will. I believe it would be best if the non-smith inquiries were veted before being posted. From the above post on 10-15-2004 05:39 PM:

quote:
Within the ""Living Silversmiths" forum, member smiths may post/respond freely. The public would submit any questions/posts via e-mail to the "Living Silversmiths" moderators (like letters to the editor in a magazine). Then the "Living Silversmiths" forum moderator(s) will select/edit and/or help clarify what is being said/asked and post it to an existing thread or start a new thread. These "letters" hopefully will become a catalyst for some interesting discussions.

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t-man-nc

Posts: 327
Registered: Mar 2000

iconnumber posted 10-19-2004 04:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for t-man-nc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would like to be able to bring some of my pieces that are in need of attention to capable smiths for help, as I sadly am not able to do any of the work my self.

Also I have been starting to collect some of the older tools I have come across in my travels that may or may not be authentic for the correct period, such as hammers, scales, files, claspers, and other items that I would love for someone to help me identify the correct period to which they belong...

There are some techniques that were used in times gone by that I am baffled as to how they could have been accomplished with the precision exhibited this log ago...

I applaud the new forum...

"Smaug"

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 02-24-2006 01:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In the past few months I have seen several registrations where in their profile for Occupation: they say Silversmith.

So I would encourage our new SSF silversmith members to consider helping us start the Living Silversmiths Forum.

Please let me know you are interested.

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FredZ

Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 02-24-2006 01:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FredZ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Scott,

I am certainly interested and will help in any way I can.

Fred

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agleopar

Posts: 850
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 02-25-2006 08:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for agleopar     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Same here Scott, it would be great to gather a (I was going to say a hammering,but that term is used for auctioneers, so how about a...) planishing of silversmiths together to hammer out any question about how its done!

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hello

Posts: 200
Registered: Jun 2005

iconnumber posted 02-26-2006 09:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for hello     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am not a silversmith, but this sounds like a fantastic idea! It would only be boring to people not interested in the craftsmanship of silver.

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 03-05-2006 03:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A few weeks ago, I spoke with a SSF member who was headed to contemporary crafts show. He expected there to be a fair amount of smiths in attendance so he offered to speak with anyone who would listen about this concept.

I expect to see him this week for more specific input. Generally he says that as many as 8 smiths seemed sincerely interested in exploring this Living Silversmiths Forum concept.

In the past few weeks we have seen several new registrations from people who, in their profile, say they are smiths.

New Member Smiths if you are reading this post but because of your new member status are unable to reply in this thread, please e-mail me at info@SMPub.com or post in the New Members Forum. If you email please make the subject line starts with SSF.

Thanks

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