Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-06-15, Page 20, PAGE 2B—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1978 It's shaping up.... • from page 1A Halifax to get his B.A. in order to teach &rafts like silversmithing but he decided to get right into the business instead. Once you're in the business, he says, the problem is to stick with it and hope your designs are appealing to people. This area really needs a gallery to help craft- smen of all types, feels Bob. Galleries act as a showcase for work, get the work into people's collections and help bring din money. In order to get 'his work known a little better, Bob is planning on having some one man shows around the area. He will also be featured at the Country Fair at Saltford Valley Hall this fall. MORE THAN JEWELRY MAKING By introducing silversmithing to people, Bob hopes to show them that it is more than just making jewelry. It is construction work and silversmiths have • to know a lot about chemicals and machinery. Silversmithing is ac- tually the art of raising or shaping sheet metals into forms by the use ,of hammers, anvils, and other tools. It is an an- cient art that derives its name, from the ,use of the metal silver, which is widely employed in this process. Other metals such as gold, copper, brass, aluminum and iron can be handled in the same manner, all with modifications. When people come to Bob for custom work, they give him an idea of what they want. This starts him • off. He then designs several' pieces with paper and pencil and they pick what they want. He took drawing lessons a long time ago which started him off. in arts and crafts in the first place. He still does pencil sketches and portraits for people if they request them. All his present work is designed with paper and pencil first. 1 CHASING AND CASTING Bob does chasing work. This is a long process but one which he enjoys. He starts off with a lead half bowl of tar or pitch that he heats until soft. He then takes a piece of flat metal ,(all his metal comes in sheets) and pushes it into the soft pitch. Next, he takes a chasing hammer and other chasing tools to hand hammer a design into the metal. The purpose of chasing is to refine and define the forms of the design and to bring them to the height of relief desired. It is an ancient form of decoration for metal objects. If the work is flat, such as a large tray or plaque, and the design is to be carried out mainly in line, texture and low relief, the chasing can be carried out almost completely on a hard- wood board of close grain without pitch. The maid advantage of working small pieces on a pitch bowl is that the work is held securely and it. -can easily be angled to a convenient working position by shifting the bowl in the supporting ring. Bob also does lost -wax casting. Basically this consists of constructing a model in wax or a wax - rosin combination of suitable thickness and forming a mold over the outside of the work to be cast. The wax is then drained or "lost" by heating the entire mold (in a kiln which heats up by degrees), which is left with a hollow space formerly occupied by the wax. Into this space the molten metal is poured until it fills the void completely. After cooling, the mold is removed (usually destroyed) and'the cast is finished with tools, if finishing is necessary. Another method of lost - wax casting requiring a centrifugal casting machine, is performed by Bob also. The basic -, principle is that the metal is forced into the revolving mold by cen- trifugal action and pressure, filling the mold cavity. The special casting -plaster -mold materials that have been. developed have made possible dense, accurate castings with the possibility of thin sections and great detail. The size of the casting depends on the capacity of the flask and the centrifugal machine. 'Usually, the capacity is relatively small allowing this method of casting to be used for small sculpture and jewelry pieces. FINISHING TOUCHES` When Bob is finished the basic work on a piece of metal, he emeries it, that is, he goes over it with a type of sandpaper to- get the-;,' scratches out. After that he goes over it with a Scotch stone to get the impurities out and help bring up a higher polish. Two to six hours can be spent on this process alone, he says. People don't realize how long it takes just to finish one piece, he says and that's why they can't understand the expense of a handcrafted piece over a machine -made piece of work. Right now, Bob specializes mostly in necklaces, rings, bracelets, bowls, and cigarette cases. However, once he gets his store •open and can buy more equipment, he plans to have more variety of items. He wants to start setting more gems, such as diamonds, into his jewelry. He plans to start weaving with gold- and silver to make different designs too. This type of weaving is just like using fabric except you use fine wire, he says. He now does in -lay work with black walnut and would like to experiment with other materials as well for in -lay 'patterns. He is also going to try etching with acid. This involves painting, the metal with a black varnish and emersing it in acid. The ATTENTION VETERANS Ex -Service Men and Women and Dependents THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION SERVICE BUREAU OFFICER Mr. Clara Wali Provincial Service Officer London, Ontario will be visiting in the area. Anyone wishing information or assistance regarding war disability pensions, treatment, allowances, etc., Is requested 4o contact,the service officer, or secretary of the local branch, whose name appears below, not later than June 99th, 19711 to arrange an Interview. HAROLD YOUNG Service Officer PHONE 524.7145 or 524.9390 acid will just eat where the bare metal is and leave the design desired. Bob says craftsmen have a lot more equip- ment now than they used to have allowing them -to do more things. But who can deny the beauty of some of those ancient designs and sculptures? Besides silversmithing, Bob does weaving, silk screening, wood carving and design, ceramics and glass blowing. Most of his time now, however, is occupied with silver- smithing. So, watch for Bob and his work in the future. He hopes to make silver- smithing in this area well-known and respected and his efforts so far have paved the way for just that purpose. Bob Stoddart has been building his silversmith business slowly but surely in Goderich. He is currently kept busy doing custom work for people and building up his stock so that he may eventually open a store downtown. Here, he shows a collection of some of his silver jewelry. It can take as long as Hi to 20 hours Co complete one ring and that's why building up one's stock is a slow process, Bob ex- plains. He recently won some awards for his work. (Photo by Joanne Walters). Rehearsalstarting at Blyth The company for this season at the Blyth Summer Festival arrived last weekend to begin rehearsals Monday, June 12. Among those, will be many, new faces, and a few already familiar. Designer Pat Flood has an impressive list of credits, including. Theatre Calgary, Tarragon Theatre, the National Arts Centre, Theatre Passe Muraille, St. Lawrence Centre, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and the Stratford Festival. Terence Durrant came to Canada from England in 1973, and has since worked with C.B.C. (both television - and radio), O.E.C.A., along with theatre work in both the acting and direction areas. Steven Thorne is a graduate of York University in Toronto, whose credits include the Orillia Playhouse, Studio Lab Theatre in Sudbury, Barrie's Georgian Theatre, and Little Hill Players, and he has toured with the Ontario Youtheatre. Other members of the company include Chris Kelk from Hamilton, Elizabeth Hanna from Ottawa, Keith Knight R.K. PECK APPLIANCES "In The Heart of Down Town Varna • Vacuum Cleaners - Sales and Service of most makes • CB Radios and Accessories • Speed queen Appliances • Moffat Appliances Smoke Sensors----- - • Insect Lights and Fly Killing Units • Handcrafted Gifts Varna, Ont. Phone 482-7103 Alake this moment a lasting memory A professional eb 84 8x10 colour portrait Choose from our selection of eight scenic and colourbackgrotlnds. You may'select additional portraits offered at reasonable prices, with no obligation. See our new Targe Decorator Portrait. Satisfaction always, or your money cheerfully refunded. One sitting per subject - $1 per subject for additional subjects, groups, or individuals in the same family. Persons under 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Thurs.-Fri.-Sat. JUNE ri 5 1 6 �- THURS. FRI. 10-8, SAT. 10-6 397 Bayfield Rd• GODERICH C6A4Y.Yo.cbAff CANA6IAN•OWNIb 1 from Sault Ste. Marie, Barbara Snaith, Heather Ritchie, Peter Snell, Karen Wiens, Tom Mcamus from London and David Kirby, - and Kate Trotter, who ap- peared at Blyth last year. The stage managers are Ron Ferguson, an original member of the Blyth Summer Festival, .!1 and S. Tigger Jourard. The season opens on July 7, with Huron Tiger. Vouchers are on sale now at the Box Office and at ticket outlets, and in- dividual tickets will go on sale soon. - COME IN AND SE E MINI FREE MINERAL MUSE UM o i[Jr4T 01115 51 ST. DAVID ST., GODERICH, ONT. 524-9972 Bridge scores Jean and Martin Stapleton took top honors in the north -south division of play at the June 6 meeting of the Goderich Bridge Club. There were eight tables in play. Len George and Joe Martin finished second with 80 points and Bob Dempsey and A. Weerasooriya were third with a point total of 77%. Joanne Duckworth and Lee Ryan copped top honors in the east -west division with 91/2 points. Betty and Ray Fisher followed with 81% and Jean Papernick and Auleen Curry were third with 78 points. FOR THE BEST IN * -Parts * Service * Accessories * Rentals urs Kv LL yuut`{ I SPORTS i RECREATION LIMITED VARNA 262-5809 GODERICH MUNICIPAL DAY NURSERY PRE -REGISTRATION for School Year 1978-1979 JUNE 16, 1978 at The Day Nursery 15 Caledonia Crescent Time: 10:30 A.M.-2:00^P-M. Pre -registration fee - 52.00 lot of people have some pretty strange ideas about Canada's im,mig ation law. And, as a result, a lot of >:: people suffer from believing them. The fad is, the most reliable information conies from Us. In other countries, we're in Canadian Government visa offices. Here at Mime; it's your Canada Immigration Centre. If you know someone who'll have to pass through Canadian Immigration in thenear futu'e, you'd be doing them a favour by pointing them in our_direc- tion. Especially now that there's a new immigration law. Now, the new law doesn't mean a lot of -changes for the average immigrant or visitor. Here, nevertheless, are a few things that might affect you or someone you know. From now on, immigrants and those visitors who come here to work or study must make all immigration arrangements before arriving in Canada. No one may change his or her status while inside Canada. Remember that money can't buy your way into Canada. All the help you need is free at any Canadian Government • visa office or Canada Immigration Centre. Canadian immigration officers do not discriminate on the grounds of colour, race or religion. Ever. A new adjudication system gives greater protection to the civil rights of people involved in immigration proceedings. And deportation will no longer be the only possible pena▪ lty. There are now less drastic alternatives for minor infractions of immigration law. The new law does not make immigration easier, but it does make it more pre- dictable. If you need to know more, ask at a Canada Ilnm4,lration Centre. If ,you know someone abroad who needs information, tell them to contact their Canadian - Government visa office before they make a move. That way, they'll know exactly where they stand when they step off the plane. 1 Employment and Emplai et Immigration Canada Immigration Canada Bud Cullen, Minister Bud Cullen, Ministre b