For the last 2 weeks SSW has been running the second instalment of our From Turf to Tools project. The project revolves working with master blacksmith and all round ancient dude Darrell Markewitz in the building of Pictish style smelting furnaces for processing ore to create iron. The project has been experimental in nature. We have been attempting to us peat as a fuel and local ore as our base material. The First experiment, using local ore and charcoal as […]
September sees the return of master blacksmith and expert in ancient metal working techniques Darrell Markewitz for the second part of the Turf to Tools project. Following on from the first phase held at SSW in 2014 we will carry out further research into Pictish iron production and the creation of tools and artefacts. During the two week project there will be opportunities to come and observe the iron smelting process and forge work demonstrations. 17th September: The crew will attempt […]
Storytelling Lumsden is a project that aims to gather, share and map the stories of the residents of Lumsden. The project is now in it third and final stage, and SSW are working with our Artists in Residence to provide a series of workshops based on craft in order to collect some direct stories and record them digitally. These workshops will help to capture the oral tradition of storytelling at the same time as illustrating them through visual arts. This project […]
Photo: Senri KojimaStorytelling Lumsden is a project that aims to gather, share and map the stories of the residents of Lumsden. The gathering of stories has so far involved a series of activities with local groups from different backgrounds and experiences to identify the stories that resonate with Lumsden, and to develop these creatively through writing, music and visual media. The project is supported by Scottish Sculpture Workshop and collaborates with lead Artist Petra Vergunst, who holds a PhD in Rural Development, Lumsden Community […]
On Friday we had our book launch for the most recent SSW publication, slow-prototype. Held at The Project Café in Glasgow we had several speakers talk about the slow-prototype project; Susan Christie from SSW’s Board, Nuno Sacramento (SSW Director), Roddy Buchanan (slow-prototype artist) and Scott Donaldson from Creative Scotland. Our current Intern Conor Baird also performed a reading of Christian Nerf’s text from the book. A big thank you to The Project Café for hosting us and the great food once again!
SSW were delighted to be part of the ‘Out of the Earth’ – Streaming Turf to Tools event by Dot.rural Digital Economy Hub as part of the ‘Being Human’ festival at Aberdeen University. The event was a viewing of the From Turf to Tools project facilitated, which took place in August of this year in Lumsden. From Turf to Tools is an ongoing enquiry that looks to our natural resources, material and landscape. During August 2014, this enquiry led to the recreation […]
During the two-week intense practical application of creating a successful iron smelt using information from Pictish archaeological findings, Darrell Markewitz and SSW technician ran three smelts, with the final smelt being held during Day 2 of the From Turf to Tools OUTING. “We had a good turnout for the third and final smelt of the project, with visitors from as far afield as Fife driving up to witness it. We had initially planned to use human power to provide the […]
On Friday and Saturday SSW opened up to the public in OUTING. We had presentations from a range of practitioners looking at the many facets of the From Turf to Tools project, as well as a public demonstration of the smelting process. We have a huge Thank You to extend to the project participants, in particular the amazing Darrell Markewitz and his wife Kelly, and SSW technician. We must also thank our volunteers James McCarthy, Thomas Stackhouse and Uist Corrigan, […]
Darrell Markewitz is a master blacksmith, hailing from Wareham Forge, Ontario. He has joined SSW for the Slow Prototype From Turf to Tools (which has an open forum this weekend, schedule available here eepurl.com/08VOb). This is an exploration of the bloomery iron process – an ancient method of metal production, knowledge of which has been largely lost over the last millenia. Darrell, you and SSW technican are both collaborating for an SSW Slow Prototype, how did this come about? We […]
From 11-23 August, the collaboration of Scottish Sculpture Workshop and master blacksmith Darrell Markewitz, with Dr. Gordon Noble, archeologist at University of Aberdeen, will seek to recreate a ceremonial axe – as seen on the Rhynie Man standing stone – through smelting and forging locally sourced materials. Two writers, Maxime Hourani (Lebanon) and Deirdre O’Mahony (Ireland) will document the collaborative research process. From Turf to Tools is an ongoing investigation in to landscape, material and craft, inspired by local archeological […]
Scottish Charity Number: SC003223