August 2025 Volume 7

FOUNDATION NEWS

hammers, presses, and anvils, in the very rooms where historic industrial processes were once developed. In addition to a fully functional and well-tooled general-purpose forging classroom, CMA is restoring and using the historic Cambria Iron and Steel Blacksmith Shop and has now begun teaching workshops on some of the larger industrial tooling. Here, CMA can offer a one-of-a-kind learning environment where students and artists work with large-scale, historic industrial tools rarely accessible in the world of contemporary forged metal arts. At this point in our restoration efforts, CMA is able to simultaneously run the #3000 and #4000 with teams of four to six smiths at each hammer. It is this collaborative model of working that distinguishes CMA from other forging educational institutions. “After attending the Center for Metal Arts in 2023 for Calculate Your Forgings, I know just how transformative the experience is,” says student Marsden Joy, “To me, CMA represents a rare opportunity, one that aligns perfectly with my current goals as both an artist and a craftsperson. The commitment to craft, artistic exploration, and community building that CMA fosters resonates deeply with my own aspirations. I believe this experience would push the boundaries of my practice and help reignite the wonder and passion for art making that I've been seeking to rediscover.” A Culture of Collaboration Executive Director Pat Quinn, who graduated with a BFA in sculpture from Alfred University and an MFA in Forging from Southern University of Illinois-Carbondale, is an internationally recognized sculptor and power hammer smith. Pat is known not just for his technical skill but for fostering a teamwork-focused approach to forging. Despite his accomplishments, CMA is defined by its collective spirit and community mindset rather than any one individual’s personality.

any and all of their work possible and meaningful. This year, the CMA Winter Residency concluded with a collaborative anvil forging session inside CMA’s historic Octagon. The forged anvil, a symbolic and literal convergence of past and present, is just one of the historical research projects CMA blacksmiths have embarked on since restoring the #3000 Chambersburg. This and most of CMA's scholarship opportunities are made possible through funding from the Windgate Foundation, which supports CMA's mission and has played an enormous role in helping to cultivate the quality of CMA’s facilities. CMA’s Connection to Industrial Forging For those in the industrial forging world, CMA reconnects with the very roots that made American manufacturing strong and vital. CMA exists where heritage preservation meets hands-on skills, and the melding of the two allows for productive historical research and the creation of unique and innovative forge work. “As an artist, I like to break the rules of forging. But that kind of work and philosophy is only impactful if you know the rules and limitations of the material and process,” says Quinn. “That's why, as an educator, it's my mission and duty to teach students proper forging fundamentals, whether at the anvil or powerhammer, a strong foundation allows you to create quality work wherever your career path takes you.”

CMA’s historic Octagon Smith Shop, where larger-scale forging happens. The American forging industry faces many challenges, including the retirement of experienced workers and a decline in apprenticeships. That’s where CMA helps to fill a need; it exposes people to forging and all its possibilities through a variety of educational programs, helping to shed light on potential career paths as industrial forgers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, or artists and educators. Students at CMA understand the results of heat and pressure, as well as how the steel reacts when subjected to both, using a variety of tooling and processes. Participants in CMA workshops not only learn how to forge certain shapes but also why they use specific tools or processes and why they are efficient.

Smiths Dani Spewak (left) and Haley Arbour (right) on the #3000 Chambersburg In workshops and residencies alike, CMA fosters an atmosphere of collaboration. Students from diverse backgrounds and skill levels work side by side on complex projects in an environment marked by mutual respect, responsibility, and shared curiosity. The emphasis on the idea that forging is inherently cooperative is woven into every aspect of the organization, and CMA is eternally grateful for the greater forging community’s support, which makes

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