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Kaminer Haislip Silversmithing Films

kaminer haislip silversmith studio

Kaminer Haislip Silversmithing Films

Kaminer Haislip’s silversmithing process and artwork are the focus of an exciting new film series. In five separate films, she demonstrates how she creates her sterling silver bowls and spoons, discusses the inspiration behind her handcrafted hollowware objects, and shows how she draws her original designs before progressing to silver. The five films debuted with her collaborative exhibition Interwoven: The Art of Indigo and Silver with Leigh Magar at Aiken Center for the Arts in historic, downtown Aiken, South Carolina in spring 2023.

Watch the five inspiring films at this LINK!

 

sc arts commisison

This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

This project is also funded in part by a generous award from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.

Silversmithing Film Online Zoom Event – May 26, 2021

wadsworth silversmithing film

Silversmithing Film Online Zoom Event with the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and Curator Brandy Culp

Join the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, curator Brandy Culp, and me Wednesday, May 26 at 6pm when we debut the silversmithing video we recently filmed in my studio! During this exclusive film produced for the museum, curator Brandy Culp and I will discuss the connection between my contemporary silversmithing and historic silversmithing. After the film screening, we will do a special Q&A session live.

wadsworth silversmithing film

Below is the Zoom link information. We hope to see you there!

Wadsworth Programs is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: DDAC Zoom Event with Silversmith Kaminer Haislip

Time: May 26, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92508112438

 

Meeting ID: 925 0811 2438

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Meeting ID: 925 0811 2438

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acBt6QxNJP

Forged Silver Cheese Knife

Silver cheese knife silver tray cheese plate appetizer serving accessories charcuterie plate

Forged Silver Cheese Knife

I am constantly asked how I make my silver pieces, so I am highlighting some of my processes on my website Blog to give insight into my handcrafted techniques. All of my designs are created with sterling silver sheet and wire through skilled fabrication techniques. Each object is made individually by my hands and I do not use casting or other mass manufacturing processes. For this blog post, my forged silver cheese knife illustrates one way I use forging in my silversmithing work.

Kaminer Haislip silversmith forged silver cheese knife silversmithing studio

Forging is a traditional metalsmithing technique that moves the metal by hammering the surface, and I mainly use this on flatware and utensils, because it gives the silver immense strength. Using a heavy hammer, forging stretches the metal and creates tension and toughness at the molecular level. Durability is of the upmost importance for functional objects and silver gains enough strength to hold its form precisely when work-hardened. Additionally, silver’s natural antiseptic properties make it the ideal medium for flatware and serving utensils.

silversmith workshop forging technique hammered silver

I begin my cheese knife by forging the shape from thick, solid sterling silver sheet. The blank begins smaller than the final form because it enlarges and expands during the hammering process on the dense steel block.

silver forging silversmith workshop handmade silver utensil

Next, I work the blade with a large planishing hammer to smooth the deep forging marks out of it and further refine the shape.

hammered silver cheese knife silversmith process handcrafted flatware

The hammer marks are then removed and the blade edge is honed razor sharp so that it will slice easily and work effectively. Finally, the entire knife is brought to a high shine on the polishing machine.

Polishing is another highly skilled process I will discuss in a future Blog post, so stay tuned.

silver cheese serving knife dining accessory silver flatware

My silver spreader is made the same way, so check out that piece in my website Shop as well!

silver spreader appetizer serving utensil handcrafted flatware pimento cheese server

For more information on how I handcraft my designs, visit the Handcrafted Process page on my website. Thank you for your interest in my silversmithing work!