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Arthur H Johns Jr.
Arthur Johns Forge & Design Studio.
20590 W. Brady Rd.
Elsie MI 48831
Bio
Arthur Johns is originally from the Detroit metropolitan area. He has been involved in making Art throughout his life. He gravitated towards working with metal while attending The School of Fine and Performing Arts school at Wayne State University. He was introduced to the craft of blacksmithing while attending a Metals Class taught by Professor Phillip Fike. Almost immediately forged steel became the dominant media within which Arthur chose to work. He has worked professionally as a metalsmith ever since.
. Arthur owns and operates Arthur’s Forge And Design Company which he founded directly upon completion of his post graduate degree (Master of Fine Art) in July of 1998. Arthur considers himself to be primarily a sculptor, however his work ranges widely, from sculpture to large and medium scale architectural objects, and custom furniture. Arthur is an Artist/Blacksmith, and primarily works in forged iron, or steel. Most of his work is produced almost exclusively utilizing traditional forging, and joinery techniques, with it’s primary emphasis on the visual qualities of the materiel, while taking into account it’s utilitarian qualities.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, where he studied under the direction of Professor Phillip Fike. He also holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he studied under the direction of Brent Kington, Richard Mawdsley, and Rick Smith. As well as attending classes at Penland School of Crafts both as a student and as a teaching assistant. In addition to his formal studies he has gained much invaluable experience by working in a variety of professional workshops both in the United States and Europe.
His workshop is located directly off M57 seven miles west of Chesaning in central Michigan. Arthur’s hours are by appointment only, however Arthur is happy to accommodate custom orders of most any description.
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Resume
Current Position
Owner Sole Proprietor of Arthur Johns Forge and Design Studio
Education
Master of Fine Arts, Metals (Iron), Southern Illinois University Carbondale. August 1995 - June 1998. L. Brent Kington, Richard Mawdsley, Rick Smith
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Metals, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Graduated Cum Laude. September 1987 - December 1992. Phillip Fike
Teaching Experience and Assistantships
Shop Technician, Graduate Assistant. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Fall Semester 1997, Spring Semester 1998
Instructor, Beginning / Intermediate /Advanced Blacksmithing. Graduate Teaching Assistant. Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Spring Semester 1998
Instructor, Beginning Blacksmithing. Graduate Teaching Assistant. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Fall Semester 1996
Assistant to L. Brent Kington. Beginning / Intermediate Blacksmithing. Graduate Teaching Assistant. Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Fall Semester 1995, Spring Semester 1996
Assistant to Hoss Haley. Sheet Metal Forming. Studio Assistant. Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina. June 22 - July 9 1995.
Professional Experience
Owner Sole Proprietor, Artos Ornamental Metals, March 1991- June 1998
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois, August 1995 – June 1998
Responsibilities included, Shop Maintenance and Instruction.
Brian Russell, Little Newsham Forge, County Durham, England,
May 15 – August 18, 1997.
Responsibilities included: Stock preparation, forging, finishing, installation.
Joseph Muck, Dablicka Studio 117/61, Prague 8, Czech Republic,
June 21 - July 2, 1996
Responsibilities included: Stock preparation, forging, creation of original work, and prototypes.
Brian Russell, Little Newsham Forge, County Durham, England,
May 17 - June 10, 1996.
Responsibilities included: Stock preparation, forging, finishing, installation.
Rick Smith, Penland North Carolina. September 1994 - August 1995
Responsibilities included: Stock preparation, forging, grinding, finishing, and shop maintenance.
Workshops and Conferences Attended
Attendee, Carbondale Metals Conference, Carbondale, Illinois, September 2003
Volunteer, Carbondale Metals Conference, Carbondale Illinois, September 1997
Participant “Forge In” at La Forge de Port Rhu, Douarnenez, France, July 17 - 21,1996
Demonstrator, IV Biennial De Arte Del Ferro Battou, Veroli, Italy, July 5 - 8,1996
Attended III. Internationaler Schmiedekongress, Aachen, Germany, June 12 - 15,1996
Participant “Forge In” at The International Festival of the Sea, Bristol, England,
May 24 - 27, 1996
Attended Expressive Design In Iron, a Symposium. Penland, North Carolina. September 1995
Volunteer at “ Repair Days” National Ornamental Metals Museum. Memphis, Tennessee. 1991-2000, 2002. Jim Wallace Director
Attended Blade Smithing. Phillip Baldwin, Dan Maragni. Penland School Of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina. August 1993
Attended Quad State Roundup, Regional Blacksmithing Conference, Tipp City, Ohio September 1993
Attended Tool Making. Philip Baldwin. Penland School Of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina. June 1991
Recent Awards and Recognition
Best Of Show ,Arts And Apples Festival 2002, September 10 2001,Rochester Michigan
Best of Show , Michigan Artist Blacksmith Association Exhibition, November 11-31 2000, Traffic Jam and Snug Gallery , Detroit Michigan
Certificate of Merit, The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, February 17 1999, London England
Honorable Mention, 8th Annual Peoples Choice Exhibit, September 1996, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois
Current Gallery Representation
Carlton Gallery, Route 1 Box 776, Banner Elk, NC 28604 (704) 963-4288
Contact, Toni Carlton
Penland School of Crafts Gallery, Penland, NC 28765 (704) 765-6211, Contact, Cathrine Grimley, Sue Ford
Ariana Gallery. 119 South Main Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067 (248) 546-8810
Contact, Anne Kuffler
References
L. Brent Kington, 88 Wipporwill Ln., Makanda, Ill 62958 (618) 549- 7926
Professor,(Art-Metals) Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Rick Smith, Southern Illinois University School of Art and Design, Professor (Art-Metals)
(618) 453-3778
Brian Russell, Owner, Little Newsham Forge, Winston Darlington, Durham England DL23QN
0 833660547
Richard Mawdsley, Professor (Art- Metals) Southern Illinois University School of Art and Design, (618) 453-3778
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Arthur& Geocentric
Shiawasse Arts Center, Owosso,MI,8/04
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