Lisa Geertsen, a Seattle-based blacksmithing artist and West Virginia University alumna, will be a visiting artist in the School of Art and Design during Oct. 9-11.

Geertsen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from WVU in 1997 with a focus on sculpture. After graduating, she moved to Seattle and began working in architectural metal shops. She also worked for an art fabrication company and spent three years apprenticing with Master Blacksmith Darryl Nelson.

Geertsen and her husband, Andy Blakney, founded Firelight Forge in 2007 and have been designing and building custom artistic metalwork out of their studio in Seattle ever since. She also teaches beginning and continuing blacksmithing classes at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle.

Geertsen will present a public lecture about her artwork Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. in Room 2251 (sculpture studio wood shop) at the Creative Arts Center. She will also conduct blacksmithing demonstrations in Room 2253 (sculpture studio metal shop) Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 9 a.m. and at 2 p.m. and on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at noon. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about the lecture and demonstrations, contact art professor Dylan Collins, coordinator of the Sculpture Area at dylan.collins@mail.wvu.edu. For more information on the College of Creative Arts, visit http://www.ccarts.wvu.edu/.

-WVU-

cl/10/08/12

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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