In 2018, eleven women blacksmiths gathered in Oregon to build together. They didn't plan to start an organization. But the conversation kept going and the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths was born. Their motto is: "Everyone has something to offer, everyone has something to learn."
This episode explores what happens when craft communities decide to take care of each other. From medieval guild statutes that paid sick members "whether lasting or only temporary" to a Kansas City Instagram call for quilt blocks that went from one twin quilt to three, we trace the long history of mutual aid through fire and thread.
We also explore the history of blacksmithing and touch on the politics of exclusion along the way. You'll learn about moments in metalworking history often forgotten or erased by men.
Featuring blacksmiths Joy Fire, Lisa Geertsen, and Olivia Hall of the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths and SPARC, alongside quilters Zak Foster, Nathan Ford, Maret Miller, and illustrator-activist Kimmie Dearest.
Art Against Empire is edited by Shawn Dearn and produced by Secret Agents. Visit ArtAgainstEmpire.net for photos, episode notes, and resources.
And remember, our hands know how to build the world we want.
