The programme was comprised of a landmark exhibition, Earth Fire Iron at the Museum in the Park along with numerous associated events. Earth Fire Iron featured work by Evans and other makers in forged metal, including graduate work by Cameron Pearson. During October half term groups of HCA students ran drop-in community workshops, ‘Chasing Nature’, in the museum’s education space and worked with (HCA blacksmithing graduate) Simon Bushell in his itinerant Nowhere Forge giving live forging demonstrations to the public.
Another strand of the celebrations were commissions for new work, a gate for an allotment Evans supported which was won by HCA Artist Blacksmithing alumnus Sam Pearce, and a sculpture commission for an emerging maker and master collaboration. The sculpture commission was awarded to Neve Taylor-Bridges (HCA student) supported by (HCA alumnus and tutor) Adam Greenwell; this project was part of a live forging event at the annual BABA (British Artist Blacksmiths Association) AGM held in Stroud in September – (see separate story).
Finally, HCA Forged Metal Arts Postgraduate students benefited from artist residencies held at Ruskin Mill College, supported with funding from Kew Gardens (see separate story) and at Hawkwood College (see separate story).
