News From the Bench

It’s been a while since my last post, but I continue to get requests to do programs from various museums, which are great opportunities to research specific historical silver/metalsmithing topics and makers.  It is indeed gratifying to be able to pass on what I have been fortunate to learn of the nearly lost art and have many interesting conversations with folks of all ages and areas of knowledge.

On Saturday, Feb 25th from 1-2:30, I will be giving a talk and demonstrating at the Museum of Industrial Heritage located at 2 Mead Street in Greenfield, Mass. This program is part of the Smithsonian exhibit titled Museum on Main Street “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” presented in conjunction with Mass Humanities.

I will be focusing on the story of the first tradesmen/artisans who came to the Greenfield area in the latter 18th Century, which eventually led to the emergence of the great metal industries of the region. We will also discuss and demonstrate the tools and techniques of these early makers.

Also, on Saturday, June 3rd from 10-4, I will be doing my semiannual silversmithing demonstration at the Historic Deerfield colonial silversmith shop. It’s always a pleasure to step into the past in this historically accurate shop. It always feels as though Paul Revere  might have just stepped out the back door.

It has been a full and eventful fall and winter since my last entry.  The Paul Revere exhibit organized by the American Antiquarian Society has now moved on to Massachusetts. The New York Historical Society exhibit was beautifully done and by all accounts a great success!

The latest venues for the exhibit which just opened are at the Concord Museum, and the Worcester Art Museum, and run through June 7th. They are equally as impressive as the NY show, and help to inform us of the importance of his contributions to our growing country.

I am honored to have the opportunity to both provide pieces for the exhibits, and present programs demonstrating and discussing the nearly lost art of silversmithing.

My week of Patriots Day festivities begins on Saturday, April 18th at the Historic Deerfield observance, where I’ll be in the colonial silversmith shop, while the parade and encampment takes place just outside the shop door. I will then move on to the Concord Museum on Patriots Day Monday, April 20th where I’ll be demonstrating after the great parade and reenactment events of the morning. My week ends at the Worcester Art Museum where I’ll be demonstrating and giving a silversmithing program on Saturday, April 25th.

All in all, it will be an exciting week with particular attention given to Paul Revere. Hope to see you there!

I have just returned from a week of teaching silversmithing on Nantucket, where I work with students as part of the Nantucket Historical Association’s 1800 House Workshop series. As always, it was a lively week of smithing.

I’m now looking ahead to the opening of the Beyond Midnight exhibit in September at the New York Historical Society. It promises to be an exciting and far reaching look at the many contributions and accomplishments throughout his productive and active life. I am fortunate to have an opportunity to have several of my pieces and a video as part of the exhibit, and will be demonstrating and working with young folks at the NYHS DiMenna Children’s Museum with young folks on September 14th and 15th. More news to come soon!

I will be demonstrating classic silversmithing on Saturday, September 30th from 10:30-4:00 at the Historic Deerfield colonial silversmith shop on Old Main Street, Deerfield, Ma. I will be working on several silver projects throughout the day, showing a wide variety of tools and techniques of the lost art.

For those who have not visited Historic Deerfield’s shop, it is a faithfully recreated example of a colonial silversmith shop. It evokes the feeling, upon entering, that Paul Revere may have just walked out the back door. The historic village will have many other activities, as well as many original houses filled with the finest of early furnishings and objects. Well worth the drive!

Hope to see you there.

We made it to Spring here, though it doesn’t look or feel like it yet! I trust it will be warmer as we approach Patriots Day.

I have two events coming in celebration of the day. First, I will be demonstrating and discussing silversmithing at the Concord, Museum in Concord, Ma on Saturday April 15th, as part of their Patriots Day Weekend festivities. There will be a variety of other activities going on as well. Among them will be an assembly of a company of Concord Minute Men on the lawn demonstrating a variety of skills. Should be a fun day!

The following Saturday, April 22nd, I will be doing a similar program at the colonial Silversmith Shop at Historic Deerfield, in conjunction with the Patriots Day Revolutionary Muster and Parade. Their will be an encampment of colonial soldiers with a battery of cannons, along with the muster and parade. Another great day!

Check their websites for more details, or contact  me at stevesmithers@stevesmithers.com or at 413-625-2994.

Also, stay tuned for news on my Silversmithing class at the Nantucket Historical Associations’ 1800 House on July 19th-21st. Contact them or me for further details.

This coming Presidents Day, Monday, February 20th, there will be a Presidents Day Celebration at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to demonstrate and discuss the lost art of Early American silversmithing as part of this exciting Family Event. Among the offerings at the Clark will be special colonial foods, metal art activities, and a musical performance. The newly created Morris and Burrows Gallery will be open as well, with a new installation of the Decorative Arts Collection of the Clark.

Hours are from 11:00 – 4:00. Hope to see you there!

I’ve been invited to demonstrate silver and brass smithing at the Glass Studio of Ed Branson this weekend, and am delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of this exciting event.

Ed is one of America’s great glassblowers, and his Open House where he demonstrates glassblowing and shows his wonderful work has become a  wonderful Ashfield Holiday tradition for many. The hours are from 10:00-4:00  and his studio is located at 634 Bellus Road.

Hope to see you there at what promises to be a festive event!

This weekend, Nov. 4th and 5th, the American Craftsman Show is again taking place at the Lounsberry House in Ridgefield, Ct.

As you may have noticed, I will unfortunately not be showing our latest works there this year. It was a difficult decision to make, since I have been coming to Wilton, and more recently Ridgefield since 1991, but it seemed like it was the right time to take a year off. I will very much miss the opportunity to see so many loyal friends after all these years, but I hope and trust that our paths will cross again before long.

My son Chris and I have been working on a number of new pieces this past year, including brass chandeliers, silver cups and beakers, and silver flatware.  Wewill be putting these up on our website soon, and I hope you won’t hesitate to call or email with any requests or questions.

Thanks so much for all your support and kind words. Talk to you soon!

It has been an active year here since my last posting, with a number of exciting and challenging projects completed or in progress.

The silversmithing workshops which I taught at North Bennet Street School, Snow Farm, and the 1800 House on Nantucket were all well attended. The students  created many interesting and beautiful pieces to take home, and all in all, it seemed to be a lively experience for all, including the teacher!

This summer I completed work on an exciting educational project with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.  I had the great opportunity and pleasure to envision and create a display of tools of the trade, and pieces in various stages of development, as part of  the groundbreaking  Artist Demonstration Toolbox Cart project. These museum carts, which are periodically rolled into the various galleries and exhibits, represent the arts of painting, sculpture, furniture making, and now silversmithing.  The goal is to help visitors to the Museum gain a deeper understanding of how the masterpieces in the collection were created, from start to finish.

I will be in the Historic Deerfield  silversmith shop Sunday, October 5th from 10-4 for a silversmithing demonstration.  Its well worth the trip to see the authentic recreation of a colonial silversmiths shop, right next to their wonderful silver collection, as well as all the other houses in Old Deerfield.

Later this Fall, I will be showing our lighting and tableware at an exciting new show in Ridgefield, Connecticut.   The American Craftsman Show will take place Friday evening through Sunday, November 6th-8th at the Lounsbury House, a beautiful historic estate, and promises to be an exciting weekend. Hope to see you there.