As my education efforts have expanded over the years I have found myself traveling more and more, I spend more time in airports than most of my friends with corporate jobs, and international travel has been increasingly part of it. But I am starting off 2018 with the farthest I have ever gone to speak and teach, literally the other side of the world.
The Australian Knife Art Association has invited me to be the key note speaker at their 2018 Australian Blade Symposium, where I will present on topics such as “Heat Treatment and Metallurgy of Blade Steelsâ€, “Blade design and functional considerations in steel selection†and “Heat Treatment Troubleshooting.†It is a distinct honor to be recognized widely enough to be invited to other countries to help advance the craft of bladesmithing.
While in the Sydney area, I have been invited to work with some of the local smiths on some quillon dagger forging, before traveling on to Canberra for the symposium and another week of dagger fun. It is exciting to see bladesmithing grow and become an international brotherhood of dedicated craftsman. I am also particularly honored that such a very talented group of makers find my input of such value that they have invited me to join them, I do believe the exchange of ideas will be wonderful.
For more information you can find the event on Facebook here- Australian Blade Symposium Facebook
"One test is worth 1000 'expert' opinions" Riehle Testing Machines Co.
Very cool, congratulations! I suspect the weather may be much nicer than it's been in Michigan.
Good news Kevin,
Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the Dagger classes but I look forward to meeting you and listening to your lectures at the symposium! We were lucky to have another ABS mastersmith Bill Burke give a talk on advanced Damascus patterns at last years symposium which was held on the weekend in the middle of the first Australian ABS intro to bladesmithing course. We are also quite lucky to have Shaun McIntyre ABS mastersmith living in Australia who regularly lectures at these events. Hopefully we will continue to see more ABS members visit or ABS affiliated events held in Australia!
P.S. You will also love the venue for the Sydney classes at the Eveleigh works locomotive blacksmiths workshop that has been operational since around the 1890's
You need some kind of assistant to carry your bags and such?
Karl B. Andersen
Journeyman Smith
Congratulations Kevin! I’d love to be there in attendance.
|quoted:
Congratulations Kevin! I’d love to be there in attendance.
Thanks Lin, the trip was GREAT! The Australians have a very good pool of knifemaking talent and were incredibly welcoming. Now I just have to get over the jet lag <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//sad.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />. I am typing this at 3:18 A.M. because my body still doesn't realize it is back in the northern and western hemispheres.
"One test is worth 1000 'expert' opinions" Riehle Testing Machines Co.
