IronNotes. Metal Art Today: Seminar in Finland and Online

The seminar will take place at LAB & LUT Lappeenranta Campus. Participants can attend either in person or virtually, as the event will be streamed online.
The event will be held in English and is free of charge.
Registration required HERE
Time: 9:30 – 17:00.


Programme: 

09:30: Coffee & registration at Lappeenranta campus  
10:00: Welcome 
- What is IronNotes? 
- Public art education at LAB University af Applied Sciences, Sampo Malin / LAB  University af Applied Sciences  
- Creative Production: Bridging Art and Digital Manufacturing, Ilkka Poutiainen and Marika Hirvimäki / LUT University   
- Graveyards – A Public Space for Blacksmiths?  Heiner Zimmermann / Gothenburg University
- Q&A 

12:00: Lunch (at own expense) & Workshop tours at Lappeenranta campus (pre-registration, limited places) 

13:30: Programme continues  
- Iron Vilnius: Contexts of Iron in History and Contemporary Art, Jurgita Ludavičiené / Lithuanian National Museum of Art 
- Title to be confirmed, Kirsi Kaulanen  
- Twisted forms, Kimmo  Schroderus / Sculptor
- Q&A  

15:00:  Coffee break  
15:30:  Programme continues  
- Sustainable Visual Arts Network, Green Art calculator and Turku Ecological Guide for Public Art, Nina Toppila / Taidehalli and Saara Korpela / WAM Turku City Art Museum 
- Shaping the future with Fossil-free steels, Kalle Lipiäinen / LUT University  
- Q&A  

Closing Summary  
- What Next in IronNotes:  European Biennial Show of Blacksmithing Art, Stia, Italy  
17:00:  The seminar ends  


IronNotes Exhibition opening at Gallery Pihatto 17:30–19:30
At Galleria Pihatto in Lappeenranta, partners of the IronNotes project and students from the LAB Institute of Design and Fine Arts will present their work together in a joint exhibition. The exhibition explores the theme of remembrance from various perspectives and features sculptures and sketches related to the topic. The participating project partners are internationally active and established artists. The exhibition opening takes place on Tuesday evening, June 17, from 17:30 to 19:30 at Galleria Pihatto –welcome!
In addition, on Wednesday, June 18, artists will present the exhibition to the public and demonstrate iron forging in live performances between 10 am – 2 pm.

The exhibition is open:
17 June: 10 AM – 8 PM
18 June: 10 AM – 8 PM


What is IronNotes? 
New needs in a rapidly changing society, also challenges old craft trades, such as blacksmithing, to reflect, adapt and re-invent their roles in society. At the Borders of Iron (IronNotes) project aims to strengthen the cultural heritage of blacksmithing; as a skill-demanding craft, it is one of those rare professions and traditions about to disappear without further action.​
With a strong background in metalworks and blacksmithing this network brings together artists,
creators, designers, producers and educators from five different countries with different kinds of events to broaden the view of the use of metal in the society today. The consortium seeks to find ways to strengthen the awareness of blacksmithing tradition, its possibilities to enhance regionality and co-operation between countries. With different types of measures, the aim is to open the role of metal also to broader audiences with themes that link people with this special material culture.

The Project is Co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe Programme.