Blacksmithing Studio

selkirk.ca/blacksmithing

Course of Studies

Course Name Credit
BLCK 121 Shop Cultures: Safety and Devices On Campus 15
BLCK 123 Fabrication Techniques: Welded Forms On Campus 4
BLCK 125 Design for Fabrication and Blacksmithing On Campus 3.5
BLCK 127 Force, Stance, Direction: Primary Hammer Skills On Campus 4
BLCK 129 Advanced Techniques: Conceptualize and Create On Campus 4
BLCK 131 Production Processes On Campus 3

Total 20

Program Summary

Blacksmith work can be seen everywhere from
wrought iron patio fences to decorative wall hangings
and art.

Designed to let you explore your personal
expression, our program teaches you the necessary
blacksmithing and welding techniques to manipulate
and join steel for both form and function. You'll
learn the basics of ornamental metal art design and
creation to put you on the road to success in the
professional marketplace.

Our instructors show you how to design, draw and
produce work in ferrous and non-ferrous metals
through a variety of studio, forge and foundry
demonstrations, discussions and exercises.

GAIN VALUABLE SKILLS

— Increase your hand skills and your hand-eye
coordination

— Understand the movement of mass
Sharpen your creative problem solving

— Learn the basics of tool construction

Through the Blacksmithing program, you will be
able to reach a level appropriate for a blacksmith
apprentice. Gaining control and confidence, you'll
be ready to produce traditional and contemporary
ironwork and begin your career.

YOUR COURSES INCLUDE

— Advanced Conceptualization and Creation
Techniques

Drawing and Design for Blacksmithing
Metal Shop Culture
— Primary Hammer Skills

Production Processes

22 ~— Selkirk College Academic Calendar 2017-18

Admission Requirements

Admission to Kootenay Studio Arts
(KSA) programs are by interview, online
questionnaire and portfolio review.

QUESTIONNAIRE

All applicants must complete and submit the
online questionnaire at least one week prior to
their scheduled interview date. The questionnaire
helps us to understand the applicant’s interest and
commitment to the studio program.

Submit the questionnaire using the Kootenay Studio
Arts online form at selkirk.ca/blacksmithing.

INTERVIEWS

All applicants are required to participate in an
interview with a program instructor from the
Kootenay School of the Arts program. Telephone
interviews will be arranged for those applicants who,
because of distance, cannot attend in person. These
applicants must mail their portfolios to the school
and ensure that they are received one week before
their scheduled interview date. The interview is an
opportunity for applicants to introduce themselves,
present their work and discuss their interests within
the arts. The instructor will assess the applicant’s
preparedness for entry into the program and will ask
about commitment, goals and expectations, design
knowledge, experience and communication skills.

It is also an opportunity for applicants to ask any
questions they might have about the program and for
faculty to recommend upgrading if necessary.

PORTFOLIOS

The portfolio is designed to assess your skill

level to help instructors increase your chances of
success in your studio program. KSA is looking for
a demonstration of visual awareness, creativity
and technical skill. The portfolio pieces may be of
any medium and they need not be specific to studio

LENGTH OF STUDY:
Four months

ACCREDITATION:
Certificate

CAMPUS:
Victoria Street Campus, Nelson

preference. Applicants should give special attention
to the following guidelines when preparing their
portfolios.

PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES

— The number of pieces in an applicant's portfolio
will vary depending on the manner in which
the applicant works. Generally, the admissions
committee would like to see a minimum of eight
and a maximum of twenty-four pieces.

— Portfolios should be brought to the interview and
only mailed if, because of distance, the applicant is
unable to attend their interview in person.

— Two-dimensional works may be presented in their
original form. Three-dimensional pieces or any
works on a large scale should not be brought
to the interview but represented by slides or
photographs.

— An applicant's portfolio must be the applicant's
own original work. It can include variations and
modifications of existing work.

— Applicants should organize their work and set it
out so that it shows development over a period of
time or group it according to type.

— Applicants should bring their workbooks and
journals. School assignments and independent
explorations will also be helpful to the Admissions
Committee.

— Applicants must keep their presentations
simple and neat. Work should not be matted or
elaborately framed.

— If an applicant includes slides or photographs,
each must include a list of the materials used, size
of the piece, title and date.

SUBMIT YOUR PORTFOLIO IN ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING FORMATS

— Attach photo's directly at the bottom of
questionnaire.

Hard copy

Portable storage device
— CDor DVD (jpeg format)

Online portfolio (Tumblr, Behance, Flickr) emailed
to epotlucki@selkirk.ca.

selkirk.ca/programs