Atlantic Coast

Blacksmiths Conference

Demonstrators

Mark Aspery - David Norrie - Peter Ross

Mark Aspery

Mark is an European journeyman blacksmith, currently an Associate of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in the United Kingdom. He currently owns and operates the Mark Aspery School of Blacksmithing based in Springville, California. Mark is an accomplished smith who, besides taking on private commissions, teaches throughout the US, and is authoring a series of books that teach the Blacksmith's craft.

"My own style now is one of a semi-literal, flowing representation of the natural world, utilizing traditional methods of joinery where ever possible."

David Norrie

David, who has lived in Boulder, Colorado since 2001, operates a three-man shop that specializes in architectural ironwork commissions. His primary focus is in creating functional architectural iron work ranging from sculpture, furniture to gates and railings. David has demonstrated his blacksmithing skills and techniques all over the United States, Canada, and England. His commissioned work has been installed throughout North America; from West Palm Beach, Florida to San Mateo, California, as well as in Canada.

Peter Ross

Master of the Shop at Colonial Williamsburg's Anderson Forge for over twenty years, Peter Ross's interest in blacksmithing began while still in high school. In the early 1970's he volunteered at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in New York. He attended Rhode Island School of Design, then worked with Dick Everett of Connecticut who specializes in the restoration and reproduction of 17th and 18th century hardware and furnishings. In 1976, after several months of travel in Europe studying ironwork, Ross opened a one-man shop in Deer Isle, Maine where he concentrated on the restoration and reproduction of English hardware, tools, and cooking utensils from the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1979, he began as a journeyman black- smith at Colonial Williamsburg and 3 years later was appointed Master of the Shop.

"Traditional objects combined fashion, function, and economy. The challenge was efficient use of iron and labor... so that early pieces are a delightful mix of simple, yet elegant solutions. Early work has a casual and spontaneous character that gives each piece life and charisma - even very repetitive things such as nails or door latches made by the thousands."