Ashokan 2007

A

Arioch

Joined
Apr 14, 2006
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When (and where) is the Ashokan seminar this year? I just heard of it this past weekend and it sounds great! :)
 
Usually in September. Don't know if a date for 2007 has been set yet.
 
Yes IG, but the real town of Ashokan is under water in the Ashokan reservoir !!!
 
the seminar is at a suny new paltz satalite campus about 12 miles from exit 19 (kingston) on the ny thruway (87?)
 
The New England Bladesmiths' Guild seminar at Ashokan is usually the third weekend in Sept. However, I seem to recall the Campus Director, Tim Neu, saying that it was going to be pushed back one week for 2007. You can check with Tim Neu, but Kevin Cashen and/or Tim Zowada would probably know the dates too, since they take turns running the show.

Ashokan-directions.jpg
 
Ashokan is one of the oldest and most respected hammer-ins in the U.S. Even before the A.B.S. really got rolling some of the best known bladesmiths in the business have been gathering there to share information and for years it has been renowned for a source of quality information that is free of the commercialized garbage and political concerns. While one of the oldest, The New England Bladesmith’s Guild is not one of the better known organizations because of its strict adherence to pursing facts with little concern for what the pop culture of knifemaking thinks. I was quite intimidated years ago when my heretical positions and pursuits caught the attention of the Ashokan organizers and I was invited to lecture there. I remember my first demonstration included my “psychic edge packing” routine designed to irreverently blow the concept out of the water, while it could have gotten me lynched at another venue, it was a hit at Ashokan. At the time I had no idea that asking dangerous questions would someday make me a Grand Pubah (the tongue in cheek term for an organizer of Ashokan) in such an esteemed organization. It is an honor that I still feel unworthy of, but there is also a lot of grunt work involved so I guess it balances out.

That being said, Tim and I were just on the phone 2 days ago discussing what we need to do at this year's Ashokan. We have some demonstrators lined up and we are started to build a seminar. To now is a great time for this thread…

What would any of you folks like to see covered, demonstrated or discussed? Are there any questions that you wished the mainstream had the guts or honesty to ask? That is the sort of thing we do very well at Ashokan.
 
Arioch, if you contact Tim Neu and get on the Ashokan mailing list they'll send you a flyer with a registration form during the summer. They have lots of seminars there, so be sure to tell him you want the New England Bladesmiths' Guild weekend.
 
If I dont make it this year please burn down my shop and kick me in the crotch :foot: I missed the last 2 years on account of work.to top it all off it's 45 minutes from my house.
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
What would any of you folks like to see covered, demonstrated or discussed?
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I'd love to see a class on proper adjustment of gas forge atmosphere and temperature for a various number of forging methods and steels.

Considering how bad my forging skills are, a Bladesmithing 101 seminar wouldn't be too bad, either...

Kevin R. Cashen said:
Are there any questions that you wished the mainstream had the guts or honesty to ask?
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right? Do you want this in Excel file format, or would you prefer in conventional debate outline?;)
 
I just checked with Tim Neu, and the dates for the 2007 New England Bladesmiths' Guild seminar at the Ashokan Field Campus will be September 14-16. Get your vacation requests in early, so there won't be any excuses for missing it.
 
J.Marsillo said:
If I dont make it this year please burn down my shop and kick me in the crotch :foot: I missed the last 2 years on account of work.to top it all off it's 45 minutes from my house.
Click to expand...

Man, if I were as close as you, I would not miss this hammer-in. I just drove 600 miles (one way) to Batson's.

If I had a job and it got in the way, I would no longer have that job:)
 
I was just discussing things today with a well known smith, cutter and ABS member who you would all recognize that I hope will be one of our guest demonstrators this year. As soon as he can confirm that he will do it I will let you know who it is. Tim Z. should be doing some leg work to invite another very recognizable name to share their knowledge. Every year we say we will get this thing together sooner but life inevitably gets in the way. It always manages to come together quite well in the end however.
 
J.Marsillo said:
If I dont make it this year please burn down my shop and kick me in the crotch :foot: I missed the last 2 years on account of work.to top it all off it's 45 minutes from my house.
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Let's go!!!!!!!! Hop skip and a jump away!!!
 
I'd love to come, but I'm not sure if I'll have the $ needed for the trip...
 
sunfishman said:
Man, if I were as close as you, I would not miss this hammer-in. I just drove 600 miles (one way) to Batson's.

If I had a job and it got in the way, I would no longer have that job:)
Click to expand...

Don, you can always ride with me and Jerry!
(Might have to keep you two seperated, though)
 
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