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The Blacksmiths Group hosted the California Blacksmith Association 2008 Spring Conference on April 24-27, 2008 at the AG&SEM facility. Over three hundred and thirty (330) people participated in the event with the theme "By Hammer and Hand".

The conference brought together World Class demonstrators, Hands-on workshops, and programs for Professional Smiths over a four-day period.

Sergiy Polubotko, a recognized leader of European artistic blacksmithing from the Ukraine lead a group of the best blacksmiths from California in the creation of a sculpture "Friendship" which symbolized the Easter Egg, a traditional Ukrainian art form with a forged iron structure decorated with hand forged details. Eleven (11) smiths, including the grandson of Alfred Habermann from the Czech Republic contributed to the construction which continued for three days under the leadership of Mr. Polubotko. Mrs. Olga Polubotko accompanied her husband and assisted in a number of ways.

Two views of Friendship sculpture, Dave Vogel photo's

Erin Simmons, a California farrier turned blacksmith demonstrated the making of tools, tongs and hammers and a combination corkscrew/ can opener/ bottle opener.

Brothers, Brian and Ed Brazeal recently back from their Journeyman travels to Europe shared their experience and demonstrated their skills working continuously for the three days of the conference.

Gary Brown of California demonstrated traditional blacksmithing and Jay Burnham-Kidwell demonstrated Sinking and Raising of copper sheet.

AGSEM member Beth Holmberg directed the Hands-On workshops which started on Thursday with forty six (46) smiths participating in a workshop on the fabrication of roses from mild steel. Five half-day hands-on workshops were given by Beth Holmberg, Georg O'Gorman, Heather McLarty, and David Carrol to standing room only crowds in the Blacksmith's shop.

The conference participants "got in the forge" and tried their hands at the projects using the forges in the blacksmith's shop as well as the forges that were brought in for the conference. A total of thirty four (34) forges were fired up and heating metal. At the same time, Gary Clare and Larry Thompson fired up the 15 HP Mogul engine and powered up the line-shaft. The 200 pound Bradley Helve (Power) Hammer was pounding hot metal into the night to the delight of the crowds in the blacksmiths barn. Word is that the fires were burning until three forty-five (3:45) AM.

The programs for professional smiths included a roundtable discussion of business issues with the theme of how to make a real business out of a blacksmithing hobby. Also covered was artistic design and "Taking the Fear Out of Drawing".

A Gallery was assembled by Pat Downing, displaying hundreds of hand forged ironwork examples. Vendors brought for display and sale various blacksmithing tools and publications. Tailgate sales allowed some participants to clear out some old junk and for others to bring home new found gems.

The new AG&SEM kitchen was used for the first time and Jack Lester and crew prepared meals that were enjoyed by all.

The participants enjoyed the conference and loved the facility. More than 25 AGSEM blacksmiths volunteered and were guided by Tibor Laky to contribute in significant ways and produced a conference that flowed smoothly.

This was another excellent blacksmithing conference and although Vista had record heat of 98 degrees in the shade and the ocean was off limits because the "sharks were biting" luckily we can report that no one was injured.

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