2009

I had the privilege this spring to visit Jake and Bob Cleland at their home on Skye and made an excellent

road trip with Owen in order to do so, in which we transected almost the entire length of the Isle of Britain.

Clockwise from the top left, a Yew tree, Owen Bush, me and Bob Cleland, at Rob Miller's house on the Isle of Skye,

Owen Bush, me Bob Cleland and Jake Cleland of Skye Knives at the Cleland's home, a church yard not far from Rob Miller's house.

 

 

 

This spring with help from the New Brunswick Arts Board, I made a special trip to London to study and document

Iron age swords, with Peter Johnsson and Owen Bush. We documented three of my absolute favorite anthropomorphic

hilts at the British Museum. We were able to trace them and take detailed measurements. I have indulged a life

long passion for the Celtic artifacts from this period and this was a very intense and rewarding experience.

 

 

Sunwise from the top, the front of the British Museum, Peter Johnsson holding his favorite of the three swords,

Peter and Owen setting up to photograph the swords, and the three La Tene period anthropomorphic swords.

 

 

Peter Johnsson measuring one of the anthro hilts.

 

 

The hallway into the research room at the British Museum.

 

 

Several La Tene period artifacts on display at the British Museum. A votive shield from a river offering,

a spear head from Llyn Cerrig Bach, and a horned helmet.

 

 

A Germanic drinking horn with incredible knotwork at the British Museum

 

 

One side of Franks casket with a riddle carved in runes at the British Museum.

 

 

Before the museum part of my study trip to Britain, I participated in a primitive steel smelt

at Owen Bush's forge. In this photo montage clockwise from top right:

Jack Hobson stoking the fire, Owen Bush putting in the initial charcoal charge,

me catching a fire sprite in the smelter chimney, Mick Maxen adding a cup of iron ore,

and finally the English blacksmith's god himself Wayland, steel wool beard and all.

 

 

2008

Demonstrating casting at the 2008 Ashokan bladesmithing seminar at Ashokan Field Campus,

Ashokan, New York State, USA.

 

 

In the spring of 2008, I demonstrated at the sword hammerin at Bush Fire Forge In London, UK.

I also helped Owen Bush run a swordmaking course taught by Don Fogg at Owen's forge.

At the end of the course we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum and were able to examine

some swords with the curator of arms and armour, Angus Patterson, including the Wittlesea Meer Sword.

Many of the below pictures where taken by Daniel Gentile;

thanks for letting me pilfer them Dan. here is a link to his website http://www.ferrumdg.com/

The Hammerin at Bushfire forge. Sunwise from top left: Owen Bush, Daniel Gentile and me

at Owen's forge in London UK, the stage is on fire! Jake and Bob Cleland of Skye, and talking

swords with Julien M. on the lovely forge couch.

 

 

From top to bottom : The Wittlesea meer sword, Angus Patterson of the V&A discusses

the swords that he has taken out for us to examine, and Peter Johnsson giving a talk about

the Wittlesea meer sword just before we got to handle it at the V and A.

 

 

Jake holds forth about knotwork and insular art on crosses at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

 

 

2006

This is me and my friend Peter Smith (on the left) talking with MP Paul Zed, at a meeting we attended with prospective federal Liberal leader and intellectual Michael Ignatief. The Meeting was hosted by Revolution Strategy, in their new office in Saint John NB.

 

 

 

2005

This is a newspaper clipping of me (in the kilt) and my friend Tim Coates (on the far Left) discussing policy with the Premier of New Brunswick, Bernard Lord, at Old Government House, the Lieutenant Governor's Mansion.

 

I've had several opportunities to meet with our provincial representative of the Queen the Honourable Lieutenant Governor, Hermenegilde Chiasson. These two pictures are when I met with him at the University of New Brunswick in January. He was also gracious enough to host a supper at Old Government House in April for our group '21 leaders for the 21st century'.

Tis is some of the '21 leaders for the 21st century' group with the Premier Bernard Lord (I'm the third from the right).

 

2004

The cover of 'Here' magazine fall 2004