Roberto Giordani is a second generation blacksmith who resides in northern Italy. He has studied and worked with many of Europe’s leading artist blacksmiths. They include Toni Benetton, Alfred Habermann, Angelo Bartolucci, and Claudio Bottero. He has demonstrated and taught at The Claudio Bottero School in Stia, Italy; Forja Viva in Barcelona Spain; the California Blacksmith Association; and the Northwest Blacksmith Association. Roberto's sculptures have been shown all over the world: Czech Republic, United States, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Morocco, Germany, and in many Italian cities.

What We Talked About

• He learned to blacksmith at a very young age and spent a lot of time in his father’s shop. He continued his education learning about metal and building restoration.
• Tony Benneton was a big influence on Roberto’s vision of metal and how it can be transformed into modern forms and sculpture.
• He worked with Alfred Habermann at the Helfenstien Castle for two weeks where he made a sculpture for the castle property.
• Roberto met Claudio Bottero about 15 years ago and has worked with him at various times over that period. He has demonstrated and taught at The Claudio Bottero School in Stia, Italy and at his school that he founded called the Arts Factory. This is an international school that invites artist and craftsmen of many disciplines to come to his studio and teach both traditional and modern techniques.
• His ABANA Conference demonstration will include making a sculpture titled “Steelhead”
• While Roberto is in the US for one month, he will also visit the state of Virginia to teach a 4 day class and to New York state to teach another 4 day class as well.

SHORT CHRONOLOGY

2015 Mount Hood, USA. Teaching at C.B.A (California and Oregon Blacksmith Association).

2014 Anchiari (Tuscany), Personal exhibition.

2013 Sansepolcro (Tuscany). “Plasticity Iron”, personal exhibition at Franco Alessandrini Gallery.

2013 Bagno di Romagna. From iron to art”, personal exhibition at Palazzo del Capitano.

2012 Cesena. “Metamorphosis of metal”. Personal exhibition at Palazzo del Ridotto modern art gallery.

2012 Kolbermoor, Germany, “Iron Modern Sculptures”, collective exhibit.

2012 Barcelona, Spain. Impromptu performance at Forja Viva.

2012 San Francisco, USA. Forging performance at the C.B.A. Spring Conference.

2011 Helfstyn Castle, Czech Republic. “Sculptured by Fire”, personal exhibition.

2010 Brussel, Belgium. “Feu & Fer”, personal exhibition.

2006 Helfstyn Forum, Czech Republic. “Energies Meeting”, public performance.

2006 Kiruna, Sweden. Ice Sculpture at the Kiruna Snow Festival (“Meteor”, third prize).

2005 Stia (Tuscany), Forging performance contest, 1st prize.

2004 Chefchaouen, Morocco. Teacher at “Forging Fundamentals” international training course.

PUBLICATIONS

“CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN SMITHS”, Antonello Rizzo, edited by Rizzo, 2015

“IL LETTO E DINTORNI”, Giuseppe Ciscato, edited by Alinea, 2000

“LA MAGIA DEL FERRO BATTUTO ITALIANO”, Giuseppe Ciscato, edited by Alinea

“METAL DESIGN International 2008”, Elgass Peter, edited by Hephaistos Jahrbuch, 2008

“SCULTURE, Roberto Giordani”, edited by Petruzzi, 2007

“FROM FIRE TO FORM “, Mathew S. Clarke, edited by Schiffer, 2008

“I MAESTRI ITALIANI DEL FERRO BATTUTO 2“, Giuseppe Ciscato, edited by Alinea, 2007

“DAMASCUS“, Emilio Albericci, Flavio Galizzi and Luca Pizzi, edited by Rizzo, 2010

Guest Links

http://www.corsiferrobattuto.com/en/ http://www.giordaniscultura.it/index.html http://www.robertogiordani.com/index.html

A Big Thank You to today’s sponsor – ABANA 2016 Conference

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