Gavin Wilson
5” plate – Roycroft Rose
John 3:16
Dogwood Plate
London, KY
Mountainfire ForgeGavin Wilson, Artist-Blacksmith
426 Bentley Road
London, KY 40744
In the year 2000, Gavin was called to the art of the forge. Upon a visit to the John C. Campbell Folk School, he first lit the fire which burns to this day at a small forge in London, Kentucky. After diligently applying the wisdom he acquired from numerous experienced smiths, all of whom first learned their craft from Francis Whitaker, the dean of artist-blacksmiths; he sought and gained juried status from Kentucky Crafted, as he refined his art and perfected his craft. Following up on a need to expand his craft, he then studied under Robert Trout, a juried Roycroft Renaissance artisan. The result is a body of work that encompasses both traditional forged ironwork, and hand hammered copper in the arts and crafts style.
Mountainfire Forge is the sum of these years of work at the forge and table, spanning thousands of hours over the hammer with copper and iron. It is the goal of the artist to produce hammered copper and functional forged iron of the highest quality workmanship, to adorn the homes and businesses of patrons of the metal arts who appreciate the finest craftsmanship and detail. Our specialties encompass hammered copper bowls, plates and placards. The scope of our product ranges from small bowls to large mirrors and chargers, to vases in copper, and coat racks to pot racks to various objet d’ art in iron, copper and brass. We are regularly asked to do custom work for items ranging from individual art pieces to reproduction ironwork and parts for antique farm tools. In every case, we strive to faithfully maintain the traditional form and function of the item, along with the traditional methods of producing each piece painstakingly by hand, one at a time, for each customer.
Education
2000 – John C. Campbell Folk School – Blacksmithing Fundamentals: Pete Brandenburg
This class instilled the fundamentals of the trade, focusing on the basic forging processes and shop safety. There were several opportunities to produce items which reflect the basic forging processes and the combination of them to produce items of excellent form and function.
2001 – John C. Campbell Folk School – Forge Welding: Charley Orlando
This class was designed to work on a specific, often difficult to learn process of forge welding, or welding without using electrical or other modern means. Items produced here included a chain and tongs, which required a clean grasp of the process to complete.
2002 – John C. Campbell Folk School – Hand Hammered Copper: Arts and Crafts Style: Bob Trout and John Rausch
This class was designed to develop basic coppersmithing skills, combined with the arts and crafts style of the early 1900’s which is embodied in the Roycroft movement. The instructor is a current Roycroft Rennaisance artisan, and worked diligently to instill the design elements of the arts and crafts movement in the class. Items produced included plates, bowls and vases in 16 ga copper and 14 ga copper.
2004 - John C. Campbell Folk School – Hand Hammered Copper: Arts and Crafts Style: Bob Trout and John Rausch
Another turn at the arts and crafts style class led to greater insight into the design and building of these pieces, along with the opportunity to complete more advanced items. I produced a large, 24” mirror, along with two vases and a plate in this class.
2004 - John C. Campbell Folk School – Fold forming: John Rausch
This class was a technique based class on the use of fold-forming in both copper and iron.
2006 - John C. Campbell Folk School – Traditional Joinery: Clay Spencer
This class taught the traditional joinery of iron, using forge welding, slit/upset/drifted holes, mortise & tenon, collaring and riveting to produce advanced works.
Demonstration Venues
2004, 2005 – Daniel Boone Festival, Barbourville, Kentucky
2005 – Battle of Barbourville
2005, 2006 – Forkland Heritage Festival
Craft gallery Display
Union College Folk Art Display – 2005
Craft Fairs
Kentucky Crafted – The Market – 2007
Juried Organizations
Member – Sheltowee Artisans
Member – Kentucky Crafted
