1995
In 1995, the Society for Midwest Metalsmiths was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The goal was to connect local metalsmiths who could share and receive technical information as well as promote and encourage individuals and groups interested in metalsmithing. Under the tutelage of Heikki Seppa, Ray Wenneker founded the metalsmithing group in the St Louis area.
History
The Midwest Metalsmiths has lived up to its mission of education throughout its thirty year history. The group has energetically worked to educate its members in the art of metalsmithing through workshops, speakers, and demonstrations. The funds we generate from our workshops and other fundraising are dedicated to the scholarships we give each year to local youth in need and university level students. We have also worked to educate the public through shows that feature the diversity of artistic expression in metal. In 2017, the organization officially changed its name from The Society for Midwest Metalsmiths to simply Midwest Metalsmiths.
Midwest Metalsmiths Board & Financials
What we do . . .
A sampling of activities before 2020.
Members come together to elect the governing board and distribute "service pins" awarded for members volunteer hours of service to the organization.
Networking Opportunities
Metalsmiths and artists get together to discuss interests and engage in creative dialogue. These gatherings may be purely social, a metal technique demonstration, a speaker dealing with relevant topics, or a field trip to a museum or local artist studio.
Workshops
Each year Midwest Metalsmiths sponsors three to four workshops. We invite and attract leading metalsmiths from around the US to teach their advanced metalsmithing skills.
Midwest Metalsmiths Art Show
In the fall each year the members of Midwest Metalsmiths come together to present and sell their extraordinary jewelry and sculptural art to the public.
Help Support Us
DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN HELP MIDWEST METALSMITHS
Your generous donation will be used to support the Midwest Metalsmiths Merit and Youth In Need scholarship funds
Amazon donates .5% of the price of eligible Amazon Smile purchases to Midwest Metalsmiths. Go to the link below and put in Midwest Metalsmiths as your charity.
Midwest Metalsmiths logo items for you to wear or drink your morning coffee.
Schnucks give us 3% of each purchase made with an eScript card assigned to Midwest Metalsmiths
Details about the eScripts Program
**There is no extra cost to you for using Amazon, Cafe Press or Schnucks eScript programs and Midwest Metalsmiths uses the income generated to support our scholarships!
Here Nina uses a Flexshaft to sand edges of a piece of metal. The flex-shaft is an invaluable tool used for sanding, grinding, polishing, drilling, and much much more.
A great Metalsmithing tool that gets shapes cut out quickly and accurately.
Soldering metal elements together to create a final whole.