STRIKE! Iron While It's Hot! Symposium and Exhibitions of Contemporary Blacksmithing and Iron in Tallinn

Programme:

Thursday 5 November 2026
- 18:00 Opening of the student exhibition Strike in the Dark.
Location: Kuldjala torn (Golden Leg Tower), Gümnaasiumi 1

Friday 6 November 2026
Location: EKA Auditorium A-101
- 9:30 Registration – Coffee
- 10:00 Welcome Address by Rector Hilkka Hiiop
- 10:05 Introduction to the symposium
- 10:15-14.30 Lectures (two coffee breaks with light snacks are included)
- 14:30 Lunch Break – Lunch at Participants’ Own Expense
- 16:00 Workshops and demos:
Is there a man in the house? Knife sharpening by Aleš Rezler (in the jewellery workshop B-504)
Get Nailed!  Nail Forging Workshop by Villu Mustkivi (in the smithy B-106)
No blacksmithing demos with metal and glass by Taavi Teevet, Andra Jõgis, Rait Lõhmus (in the glass workshop B-604)
* Please note that the workshops’ capacity is limited. Participants will be registered on site.
- 17:30 Guided tour at EKA
- 19:00 Opening of the STRIKE Exhibition – EKA Valge maja, Kotzebue 10 

Saturday 7 November 2026
Location: EKA Auditorium A-101
- 10:00 Welcome and Opening Words
- 10:15 Lectures (two coffee breaks with light snacks are included)
- 14:30 Lunch Break – Lunch at Participants’ Own Expense
- 16:00 Guided tour of decorative ironwork in Tallinn’s Old Town by Heigo Jelle
- 18:00 Opening of the exhibition Hardware – Pika jala torn (Long Leg Tower), Pikk jalg 3
- 20:00 Social gathering

Sunday 7 November 2026
- 14:00 Informal Gathering at the young blacksmiths’ workshop, BBQ & Chill –Liimi 8

Lectures by:
Eik Hermann (PhD, philosopher, Estonian Academy of Arts), Ragnar Saage (PhD, archaeometallurgist, Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University), Julia Wild (researcher in cultural studies and jewellery history, Campus Gemstones and Jewellery, Trier University of Applied Sciences), Alexander Kamelhair (blacksmith and artist, Texas, USA), Will Maguire (blacksmith and artist, Australia), Peter Bauhuis (artist, Germany), Jun Ishikura (photographer, Japan), Raditya Mahardhika (designer and blacksmith, Indonesia), Karl-Erik Hiiemaa (conservator, Estonian National Museum), Aleš Rezler (blacksmith and knifemaker, Czech Republic/ Estonia), Sander Haugas (architect and blacksmith, Estonia), Nils Hint (blacksmith and educator, Estonian Academy of Arts), Urmas Lüüs (artist and educator, Estonian Academy of Arts).


What is IronNotes? 
At the Borders of Iron (IronNotes) is a series of events and a network that gathers together professionals, makers, students and broader audiences around the common theme of metal. With a strong background in metalwork 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 society today: Estonia, Finland, Italy, Norway and Sweden.

This consortium seeks to find ways to strengthen awareness of blacksmithing tradition, its possibilities to enhance regionality and co-operation between several countries. With different types of events, the aim is to open the role of metal to broader audiences with themes that link people with this special material culture.

The Project is Co-funded by the European Union.