Pike Lake Forge: Pike Lake Forge: Keeping Pike Lake Alive

Pike Lake Forge: Pike Lake Forge: Keeping Pike Lake Alive: What wonderful news we have to share! To our surprise, just as Mummu's homestead was about to be sold to someone outside the fami…

Pike Lake Forge: The homestead was in the family for over 100 years...

Pike Lake Forge: The homestead was in the family for over 100 years...: Here's a photograph of Pike Lake - the homestead where my Great-great grandfather raised Mummu (seen below). Mummu would have been …

Studio Y

Well, I think I'm seriously going to apply for a Fellowship with Studio Y in Toronto. I heard about the program through the CEDC, and it's quite amazing. I feel they will help foster and achieve future ambitions. I will only grow, and gain skills that will forever impact my life and part within the community. Check out what they're about here:

http://www.marsdd.com/systems-change/studio-y/studio-y-home/

The only downfall is that I would have to reside in TO for 8 months. On the bright side, I'm young and Pike Lake Forge is still in developmental stages, and so it would only positively impact its future development.

You'll find Carol and Kriev of Pike Lake Forge in the CEDC Jan.Newsletter!

Find the Pike Lake Forge cover story here:
http://www.thunderbay.ca/CEDC/News_and_Events/Newsletter_-_Thunder_Bay_Economic_Developments.htm

We made front page! Thanks for the support CEDC!

The Beginning of a Bright, New Year...

Well, time sure flies and change is inevitable. 

Below is a picture of Rachel and I a couple of years ago at the Grand Opening of Satellite Studio on St. Paul St. Cars now park on the opposite side of the street, we have some fresh trees and sidewalk. New businesses are popping up: a hair stylist, boutique, The Walleye, New Day Records, and a coffee shop is in the making! 

As 2015 commences, Satellite Studio no longer will maintain space on St. Paul -- which was a great bright studio location. I've offered it to Don Bayes to set up Hide5. So I'm a little bit sad, but at the same time very excited about new horizons. SSAC will continue to exist, we'll continue to create and mentor one another. Don and I had Art's Gallery open for a year, and it was great! If we had some more artists involved, perhaps we could have maintained such a large space. But personally, I have no interest in running a gallery, so I needed to move on, and find people to sell my work. Now, I continue to develop Pike Lake Forge and soon will be partaking in an E-Commerce program through the College, and have been building partnerships with local businesses.

We now sell our bottle openers at Sleeping Giant Brewery, our fire tools and some candle holders at Bobs Intelligent Heating Decor/ Woodburner's & Fireplaces, and our towel racks at Arcuro Design. Today I also dropped off "A Branch Between You and the Sun" (seen below) at Ahnisnabae Art Gallery's new location. 

There are many potential spaces in mind, including a handful outside of the region.  So keep an eye on our Pike Lake Forge Facebook page and blog (www.pikelakeforge.blogspot.ca) for details. Aside from focussing on getting our metalwork into the hands of adoring fans, I now begin working full time at Canadian Tire. This change stems from my  largest goal of purchasing a beautiful home with a nice garage to set up shop in Hymers. Thus, a new year commences with great goals and ambition. It's been great working out of my Dad's garage, but realistically in order to prosper, we need permanency. In the past few months we've acquired a treadle hammer, power hammer, and one tonne of coal! Together these will drastically affect and improve our work. Excitement is in the air and although I cannot be easily found downtown, keep in touch online and don't be a stranger! We'll be seeing you around town, and if you're craving to see us or other smiths/metalworkers in action, come out to a guild meeting! I'm the Secretary, so just shoot me and email requesting to be on the list and you'll regularly receive updates. ;) ckajorin@gmail.com

Q: “Are you just a performer, or do you also have a job?” A: “I’m a performer. So I have eighteen jobs. Thanks for asking.”

Revolva, a great performance artist and writer has written some pretty great articles illustrating her life as a performer. I, as most or all artists would, understand completely. One article is about when Oprah's agent called asking her to perform for free, and the other revolves around that dreadful question… do you have a job? They are great reads, check them out!

Here's a few words:

Q: “Are you just a performer, or do you also have a job?”
A: “I’m a performer. So I have eighteen jobs. Thanks for asking.”

 "it’s less a selfish life led by lazy, lucky people – than it is a selfless one led by people who often spend every waking moment dealing with (or even thinking about) some aspect of how to raise our art into the world, the way a mother raises a child."

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2014/12/08/open-letter-oprah-whose-life-want-tour-asked-work-free-2

http://revolvahoopdance.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/do-you-have-a-job/

REVOLVA is an international hula hoop act, circus sensation, writer and character performer. Since 2002, she's traveled the globe, evoking laughter and standing ovations, under the motto: "Funny IS sexy!" - visit http://revolva.net

The Preserving Harold Project: PHP on display at The AG

"The North Now" exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery has been extended until Jan. 18th!



The Preserving Harold Project: PHP on display at The AG: Well, three pieces from the Preserving Harold Project are currently on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery (1080 Keewatin St., Thunder B...