We’re proud to announce that we have started work on a new project – a community sculpture to honour first responders, frontline and essential workers. The best part? We’re not just making it to honour them, we’re making it with them.
Blacksmithing has always been about so much more than the finished product. Whether we’re creating a functional tool, decorative embellishment, or conceptual art piece, the process of working with steel and fire is consistently cathartic. The physicality of it puts our minds at ease. The infinite creative possibilities spark inspiration and help us form new perspectives. We want to honour frontline workers by offering them this artistic practice in support of their mental health and emotional wellbeing. These workshops will be a space for open participation and camaraderie, offering the opportunity to learn a new skill while engaging in a mindful task.
We are so excited to embark on this creative journey and give back to a community that has given us so much.
A commemorative sculpture for front line workers will be built under the skillful guidance of a master blacksmith. Not only will they be honoured by the sculpture, but the front line workers will be engaged in the actual creation of the piece, enabling them the space for a healing and therapeutic experience.
We will host frontline workers in a series of small workshops. This will be a space to engage in an environment that allows open participation, camaraderie, and the opportunity to learn some new skills all while engaging in a mindful task. The individual efforts will become part of a permanent sculpture honouring their contributions to the public. Workshops will be offered to participants free of charge to create a small, forged metal piece that will become part of a larger sculpture. Participant names will be etched into each piece and skillfully forged into a larger monument by a master blacksmith. The finished piece will be a large maple leaf, a recognized symbol of our national identity.
This project aims to honour frontline workers by supporting their mental and emotional health through artistic metal working. We will recruit close to 100 participants through our connections in the Foothills community.
The goal is to provide a sense of accomplishment, mental and physical well-being, and the knowledge and experience to continue the craft in their own communities if they so desire.
Register yourself or
Nominate someone else!
Forms Below
In March, we have several dates that we will be hosting a series of free half-day workshops for frontline workers. If you or someone you know could benefit from this therapeutic half day of mindfulness, please fill out this nomination form below and we would love to have them out to the forge to participate in creating this commemorative sculpture to honour our front line workers and the community we are fortunate to be a part of.
How do you become part of it?
STEP 1: APPLY BELOW USING THE REGISTRATION FORM
STEP 2: SIGN UP VIA LINK TO CHOOSE YOUR WORKSHOP DATE
STEP 3: NOMINATE ANOTHER FRONT LINE WORKER
STEP 4: FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL FOR PROGRESS
WHEN:
March 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 we will have both AM sessions (9am- 12:00pm) and PM sessions (2:00pm-5:00pm).
Register Yourself below and click on the link to register your preferred session time.
Share this page with others, nomination someone else and be sure to follow the progress online and on Facebook.