 "Photo: Julia Rendleman")
Clanging metal, sparks of fire, leather pants, tattoos and piercings and even kilts set the scene over the weekend at this year's Southern Illinois Metalsmith Society (SIMS) conference.
Intimidating in appearance, this crowd of students, metalsmiths, professors and world-famous industrial artists were eager to describe their enthusiasm for metalsmithing and the importance of SIUC to "the scene."
SIMS, a student-run organization comprised of SIUC metal students, hosted its annual conference and art auction over the weekend. The auction featured works of students, professors, alumni and visiting artists. This year, the organization brought in two visiting artists: Ries Niemi, a highly accomplished industrial artist from Edison, Wash., and Michael Bondi, a world-renowned self-taught metal artist from Richmond, Calif.
Bondi's client list includes the likes of financial mogul Donald Trump, Disneyland and Euro Disney. Niemi's works can be seen across the country in public spaces. One of his more recent works is Scroll Fence (2007), situated in downtown Phoenix, Ariz. It is a 320-foot stainless steel fence at the new light rail stop at the Central Station.
Niemi and Bondi presented lectures Saturday in the Wham Education Building followed by demonstrations of technique in the industrial wing of Pulliam Hall. Both men agree that southern Illinois and particularly SIUC hold a paramount role in the resurgence of blacksmithing that has occurred in America since the 1970s.
"Carbondale holds a creative and founding position in the rebirth of blacksmithing in America. SIU is a pivotal place for that because Brent Kington started the metals program here that focused on blacksmithing and (SIU) hosted one of the first international conferences on blacksmithing" Bondi said.
L. Brent Kington, a name synonymous with modern day blacksmithing, is the father of SIUC's metal program and is a man revered by metalsmiths around the world. Kington retired in 1996 after 35 years of service at SIUC. A former student of Kington's and guest artist at the SIMS conference, John Medwedeff of Murphysboro, described Kington's importance to the field this way: "If you want to become an actor, you go to Hollywood. If you want to be a metalsmith, come to Carbondale."
SIMS President Stephanie Ellis, a graduate student in metals, hopes that this weekend's conference will draw attention to the unique nature and importance of the metals program at SIUC. Money raised at the auction goes to offset student fees, bring visiting artists to the area and fund next year's conference.
Although SIMS expected a greater turnout and more revenue, the money remains a monetary reassurance that SIUC is continuing in the tradition of accomplished metalwork laid out by L. Brent Kington.
