Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center upcoming events

Blacksmithing Basics 2 (Tue, October 27, 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

For blacksmiths with experience, this class is aimed at continuing to develop your knowledge and skills. The approach will be less structured than Blacksmithing Basics 1 and more focused on your individual projects and exploration. You'll be able to take on new forging challenges including slitting, punching, and drifting as a lead in to forged joinery, along with variations on twists that require slitting and multiple passes. You'll practice drawing and tapering multiple splits in wider bar by making leaves. You'll leave this class able to design projects that combine multiple elements either in a single piece or multiple parts. Coming with a few design ideas will help you focus on skill development.

Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Basics 1 or equivalent experience/permission from instructor.

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks

Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (TUE EVE) (Tue, October 27, 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

If you had a hammer, would you use it to drive a nail? Or would you rather use it to forge a nail from red hot iron? This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of expressing yourself by shaping iron with fire and hammer. You'll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging, and the ability to safely shape iron with heat and a hammer.

By the end of class, you'll have covered the basic forging processes, including drawing and tapering, splitting, cutting, drifting, punching, twisting, upsetting. You'll develop those skills through projects such as: hooks, utensils, bottle openers, trivets, and forging tools.

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Forged Flowers & Leaves (Wed, October 28, 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Transform inorganic material into organic shapes in this hands-on workshop. You’ll learn how to manipulate metal into delicate, lifelike forms inspired by nature. Discover the intricate balance between strength and finesse as you hammer, bend, and texture steel to mimic the flowing lines of flower petals and leaves. By the end of the session, you’ll not only create a beautiful, hand-forged piece but also gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and precision involved in blacksmithing while practicing essential forging techniques.

$265 ($225 tuition + $40 materials), 5 sessions
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (SUN MORN) (Sun, November 01, 2026)

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Lee Meilleur

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Bottle Openers for Beginners (Sun, November 01, 2026)

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Build your blacksmith skills with a fun and useful project: making a bottle opener. They’re quick to make and can incorporate all basic blacksmithing processes in one compact project. We'll end class with a celebratory bottle-opening to try out your new tool - that means a beer or soda is included! No experience necessary.

$100 ($75 tuition + $25 materials)
Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: John Hehre

Blacksmithing Basics 2 (Tue, November 03, 2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Basics 1 or equivalent experience/permission from instructor.

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks

Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (TUE EVE) (Tue, November 03, 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Forged Flowers & Leaves (Wed, November 04, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

$265 ($225 tuition + $40 materials), 5 sessions
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (SUN MORN) (Sun, November 08, 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Lee Meilleur

Blacksmithing Basics 2 (Tue, November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Basics 1 or equivalent experience/permission from instructor.

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks

Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (TUE EVE) (Tue, November 10, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (SUN MORN) (Sun, November 15, 2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Lee Meilleur

Blacksmithing Basics 2 (Tue, November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Basics 1 or equivalent experience/permission from instructor.

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks

Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (TUE EVE) (Tue, November 17, 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Creatures & Critters (Wed, November 18, 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Want a metal friend? Come make a pocket-size companion or two! In this 3-session class, we'll combine blacksmithing fundamentals into creative projects like whales, owls, and snails. No experience is necessary, but if you've swung a hammer before, this class will give you the opportunity to think through your skills in new ways. At the end of the class, you'll have 2-3 hand-made critters to decorate their keychains, desks, or keep in your pocket.

$170 ($135 tuition + $35 materials)
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Hair Accessories (Fri, November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Keep your flowing locks in place with hand-forged hair accessories that you'll craft yourself in this introductory blacksmithing workshop! We'll start by crafting a straight hairpin, practicing bends and twists along the way. Then you can continue making straight pins or veer into curved pieces to go with your hairpin. You'll be introduced to and practice basics blacksmithing techniques while you twist and taper your hair accessories to your satisfaction. No experience necessary.

$90 ($75 tuition + $15 materials)
Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (SUN MORN) (Sun, November 22, 2026)

Sun, 22 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Lee Meilleur

Blacksmithing Basics 2 (Tue, November 24, 2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Basics 1 or equivalent experience/permission from instructor.

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks

Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (TUE EVE) (Tue, November 24, 2026)

Wed, 25 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Sergey Vaynshenk

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Creatures & Critters (Wed, November 25, 2026)

Thu, 26 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

$170 ($135 tuition + $35 materials)
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli

Blacksmithing Basics 1 (SUN MORN) (Sun, November 29, 2026)

Sun, 29 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Lee Meilleur

Blacksmithing Basics 2 (Tue, December 01, 2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Prerequisite: Blacksmithing Basics 1 or equivalent experience/permission from instructor.

$415 ($360 tuition + $55 materials) | 8 weeks

Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: Dan Osadchuk

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Creatures & Critters (Wed, December 02, 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

$170 ($135 tuition + $35 materials)
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli

Unfinished Business: Finishing Techniques for Metalwork (Sat, December 12, 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for a one-day workshop that's all about taking your metal artwork across the finish line.

In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to safely and confidently use angle grinders, die grinders, dremels, and other finishing tools to refine surfaces and remove casting or weld marks. We’ll also dive into needle scalers and sandblasters for texturing and cleanup, giving you a full toolkit for professional-quality finishes. A comprehensive patina demo will introduce you to color, oxidation, and sealing options so your work looks intentional and gallery-ready. This class is perfect for past casting students who have unfinished pieces waiting for attention, as well as artists who want to add hardware or make minor adjustments so their work functions smoothly. Bring your “almost done” projects and leave with completed, exhibition-ready metal sculpture.

$90 ($75 tuition + $15 materials)
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Brighton McCormick

Open Forge Time (Fri, December 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Open Forge Time is available to people who have taken (or are currently taking) a blacksmithing class at CAFAC.

Let's fire up the forges and work on personal projects! This is a great opportunity to make tools or finish something you've been working on, with an instructor on hand to answer questions as needed. You'll provide your own metal and CAFAC will supply the tools, equipment, and shop consumables.

Experience is required. Please don't sign up if you haven't taken a blacksmithing class at CAFAC.

$45
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli

Blacksmithing Project Shop: Bottle Openers for Beginners (Sun, December 20, 2026)

Sun, 20 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

$100 ($75 tuition + $25 materials)
Open to ages 16 and up.

Instructor: John Hehre