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A steel bar becomes a holiday ornament in a hands-on Pittsburgh workshop for beginners and experienced participants alike.
All times are local to the venue · America/New York
Heating, tapering and coiling steel are the building blocks of Forged Ornament with Robert Burns, a three-hour workshop at Contemporary Craft’s Timmons Studios. On December 1, 2026, participants will make an ornament while trying the fundamentals of working hot metal.
Rather than assembling a decoration from ready-made parts, participants start with a bar of steel. Burns will introduce heating and tapering, as well as bending, twisting and coiling the metal into a finished ornament. The project brings several ways of shaping steel together in one piece that can be kept or given as a gift.
Burns has worked as a blacksmith since 2008 and started Wilderness Ironworks in 2010. Contemporary Craft describes his practice as a connection between historical techniques and contemporary knowledge and design.
Further reading: Forged Ornament with Robert Burns - Contemporary Craft ↗
Beginners are welcome, but the work is physical: the session involves fire, hot metal and swinging a hammer over several hours. Contemporary Craft says some stamina is needed.
Wear natural fibers such as cotton or denim, with uncuffed pants and closed-toe shoes; shorts and sandals are not permitted. Restrain long hair. Safety glasses and hearing protection are provided, although participants may bring their own. The studio is open-air, so the organizer recommends a coat and a water bottle.
Further reading: Forged Ornament with Robert Burns - Contemporary Craft ↗
The ornament is made in one three-hour session.
Register through Eventbrite. Tuition is $80 plus a $20 materials fee, and all project materials are provided.
Forged Ornament with Robert Burns - Contemporary Craft ↗ · Forged Ornament with Robert Burns Tickets, Tuesday, December 1 • 6 PM - 9 PM | Eventbrite ↗
Contemporary Craft requires student refund requests at least three business days before class, with a $25 cancellation fee; the materials fee is nonrefundable. Eventbrite also displays a seven-day refund policy, so contact Contemporary Craft if the deadline affects your plans.
If Contemporary Craft cancels for insufficient enrollment, it offers a full class-fee refund through Eventbrite or the option to leave the fee in a Contemporary Craft account for a future workshop.
Forged Ornament with Robert Burns - Contemporary Craft ↗ · Forged Ornament with Robert Burns Tickets, Tuesday, December 1 • 6 PM - 9 PM | Eventbrite ↗
The Blacksmithing Studio is at Timmons Studios, 5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201, not the Raphael Building at 5645 Butler Street. The Timmons main entrance is on Butler Street; the accessible entrance is around the corner on 57th Street. Ring the doorbell for entry.
Contemporary Craft lists accessible restrooms on both floors of Timmons Studios. For workshop-specific access questions, call 412-261-7003 or email [email protected]; accommodation requests should be made at least two weeks before the visit.
Forged Ornament with Robert Burns - Contemporary Craft ↗ · Accessibility - Contemporary Craft ↗ · Visit or Contact Us - Contemporary Craft ↗
Contemporary Craft lists street parking on 57th Street and Butler Street, with parking for the Timmons accessible entrance on 57th Street. Its visit page lists public transportation routes 87, 91 and 93; use the directions links to plan from your starting point.
Accessibility - Contemporary Craft ↗ · Visit or Contact Us - Contemporary Craft ↗
No. The workshop welcomes beginners, though it involves several hours of work with hot metal and a hammer and requires some stamina.
Materials, safety glasses and hearing protection are provided. You may bring your own glasses and hearing protection if preferred; a coat and water bottle are recommended.
Choose natural fibers such as cotton or denim, uncuffed pants and closed-toe shoes. Shorts and sandals are not permitted, and long hair should be restrained.
5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-10-29 against the linked sources.