Intro to Forging Series with Danielle Brannigan

Discover the possibilities of working with ferrous and non-ferrous metals! 6-Week Series Date: Thursdays, September 24th – October 29th Time: 6pm – 9pm, each Thursday Description: Explore the possibilities of forging with copper, brass, and mild steel! Students will experiment with cold working, annealing, fold forming, air chasing, and surface development while learning how different metals respond to heat, force, and forming. Over six weeks, students will create individual projects, refine techniques, and develop the skills necessary to work with metal. Your instructor will provide demonstrations, open studio time, guidance, and feedback throughout the process, concluding with finishing and a group sharing of completed work! Students will learn studio safety, proper tool/equipment use, and walk away with new skills and feeling inspired! Students will leave with foundational skills in forging, forming, and working with copper, brass, and mild steel, along with individual pieces or studies exploring jewelry, sculpture, functional, or mixed-media applications. This class will involve hot metal, fire, and repetitive swinging of a hammer, it can be somewhat physically demanding at times, so slight stamina is recommended. Tuition: $330+ $60 materials fee Materials: All materials will be provided. Students should wear natural fibers such as cotton and denim. Uncuffed pants and closed-toe shoes are required (no shorts or sandals permitted). Long hair should be restrained. Safety glasses and hearing protection are provided; however, participants may bring their own if preferred. We recommend bringing a water bottle to stay hydrated. This workshop is in an open air studio, bring a coat to keep warm before the forges get fired up! Location: Contemporary Craft – Timmons Studios, Blacksmithing Studio (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201) Cancellations and Refunds: Workshop cancellations are decided three business days before the start date. If workshops must be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, the entire class fee will be refunded through Eventbrite, or you may leave your workshop fee in your Contemporary Craft account for future workshops. ANY WORKSHOP OR INDIVIDUAL SESSION CANCELLATIONS WILL BE COMMUNICATED VIA EMAIL. Refund Policy: Student refund requests must be made at least three business days before a class begins. There will be a $25 cancellation fee. We are unable to refund materials cost for this workshop. No refunds will be given without three-business days notice. Processing of refunds takes approximately three weeks. About the Artist Danielle Brannigan is a Pittsburgh-based silversmith, blacksmith, artist, and educator who works across jewelry, small- and large-scale sculpture, metal fabrication, and welding. She loves working with all forms of metal, with a particular affinity for steel and copper. Her practice is rooted in experimentation, hands-on making, and discovering new possibilities within the material. She has a special interest in reclaimed steel and recycled materials, giving new life to materials through transformation and reuse. In her current explorations, Danielle is experimenting with enameling steel, exploring the interplay of color, surface, texture, and form. As an educator, she encourages curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to push the material in unexpected directions.