WORKSHOP: Postindustrial Blacksmithing / Blending Ecological Science and Blacksmith Art Together

As part of the Care Chapter: Care for Material, and following our reading of Sennet’s The Craftsman and Illich’s Tools of Conviviality, we invited Bogdan Popov (Master Eco-Smith) to run a 2-day workshop for us at the FIWI (with the support of our collaboration partner Chris Walzer)

Learning about blacksmithing in the view of:

Simplicity

Mobility

Use of local available resources and materials

Self-sufficiency

Energy efficiency

Compatibility with natural and human environment

Producing useful products for the local communities

Minimisation of waste and pollution

Positive social role of the blacksmiths

Minimal use of power tools

Preservation of ancient blacksmith traditions

Topics include:History of the blacksmith art evolution. Blacksmithing in the postindustrial world. The art of staying light. Space. Where and how to organize a forge. Energy. Fuel and electricity. Making own charcoal. The hearth. Making a simple side blast forge. Blowers. Smoke evacuation. Anvils and their types. Setting up the anvil. The art of body. Using human body efficiently for producing blows. The art of hammer. Types of hammers. The techniques. Making nails, hooks and leaves. Making a candleholder. Making blacksmith tongs. Working with steel. Identifying carbon. Heat treatment. Making a chisel. Making a knife. Forge welding. Summary.  Social role of a blacksmith. The outlook for the future. About the master:
*Bogdan Popov –  a blacksmith and ecologist. Recognized internationally for developing ecologically sound approaches in modern blacksmithing as well as for his ancient blacksmith techniques studies.   Founder of the School of Traditional Blacksmith Art. Director of the EcoSolutions Forge Agency (www.ecoforge.org)

As an ecological engineer involved mainly with designing sustainable sanitation systems for the rural mountain areas. As a blacksmith mainly involved with tool making especially axes.

Lives with his family  in the Carpathian region of Ukraine but often travels around to work and teach blacksmith art and ecological engineering.*