Fiery competitor Parkinson forges reputation as bladesmith
by Lisa Backus, New Britain Herald, August 14, 2016 Matthew Parkinson can recall the vivid arc of sparks the first time he saw a blacksmith at work, when his parents took him to Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts as a child. “There were sparks flying everywhere,” the 40-year-old New Britain resident said. “It was just […]
Jasmine Gonzalez, Guilford Art Center Resident Potter, Featured in Gallery
Zip06, Published August 11, 2016 Guilford Art Center will stage an exhibition of the ceramic works of Jasmine Gonzalez, the center’s resident potter since January 2015. The exhibition is on view in the gallery Friday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 4, with a closing reception on Thursday, Septe. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. Gonzalez […]
VIDEO: The Art of Blacksmithing
JP Coleman, WTNH News 8 Photojournalist and Dylan Hyman, wtnh.com Staff It’s hot, it’s loud, and a bit dirty, but one Connecticut artist says it’s all he has ever known. Mace Vitale is a blacksmith at the Guilford Art Center. Mace says that while some believe blacksmithing is a dying art, it is actually very […]
From a Long Tradition, Maximum Creativity
by Pem McNerney, Living Editor, Zip06 Traditional quilts are usually made of three layers, including a cover, then the padding, then the backing. But when the craft evolves into art, it doesn’t always have to be exactly that, says Diane Wright of Guilford, a studio art quilter who is one of the curators of the […]
‘Forged in Fire’ Victors Reception, Display of Works
Guilford Art Center (GAC) will hold a reception and temporary display of works by its GAC blacksmith instructors and Forged in Fire winners, Mace Vitale and Matt Parkinson, on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. This event will celebrate their victories on the new History Channel series, as well as provide the public a chance […]
Guilford bladesmiths prove they’re a cut above other sword makers
AS SEEN ON FOXCT An age-old art form is in the spotlight thanks to a reality program that showcases the talents of the country’s best bladesmiths. A bladesmith is a craftsman who makes knives and swords. Mace Vitale, of Guilford, and Matt Parkinson, of Wolcott, both won the competition on the History Channel reality show […]
Guilford bladesmith wins History Channel competition show
New Haven Register, by Tim Rizzo, August 15, 2015 Photo by Catherine Avalone It’s not coincidence that William Mace Vitale, or “Mace” as he prefers to be called, is a bladesmith whose middle name is also that of a medieval weapon used to cause blunt force trauma in early 3200 B.C., which is created by […]
Guilford Art Center Instructors Win “Forged in Fire” Competition on the History Channel
Guilford Art Center is very proud to announce that two of its Blacksmithing instructors – Mace Vitale and Matt Parkinson – were winners on a new series on the History Channel, Forged in Fire. GAC instructor and forge manager Vitale won the series finale episode on August 10; Parkinson, a frequent visiting instructor, won the […]
Finding New Perspectives at the Guilford Art Center Expo
From Zip06, July 21, 2015 Photo by Kelley Fryer, The Courier Brian and Patty Donahue were impressed with the Richard Gayle Photography booth at the Guilford Art Center Expo held last weekend on the Green. Expo welcomed thousands of guests and featured works by more than 180 of the country’s most distinguished artisans. (Read More)
GAC is Top Guilford Shopping Destination
The shop@ Guilford Art Center was just featured as a top shopping destination in Guilford by the e-list. Click here to view the list and map of all shops featured in the guide.