by andrew thornton
SPARC, Smiths for the Promotion of Accessibility, Representation, and Community, (the BIPOC cohort of the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths) held a retreat on September 20th - 22nd 2024 at The Steel Yard in Providence, Rhode Island. Our keynote speaker was David Harper Clemons. The goal of this retreat was to foster community building and information exchange through demonstrations, workshops, shared projects, and intentional time for attendees to connect. We had demonstrations on an alternative surface treatment with EGGSHELLS, stamping and basic metalsmithing, intentional blacksmithing, wax working, and welding. It was a free event open to any BIPOC person currently working with metal. We had 20 participants throughout the weekend coming from all over the country.
It was the first time in my career that I was in a space with only BIPOC artists who worked in metal. The sense of community and camaraderie was instant and even though we came from different backgrounds and represented varied cultures, we intuitively understood each other. We had side conversations about hair and skin and navigating problematic systems without having to explain ourselves and it was really refreshing.
Our next event is in September 2025 at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, PA. Please contact us on instagram @sparc_metalartists or email sparcsibscohort@gmail.com if you are interested in participating!
Comments