Background
Greg Gehner grew up on a farm in central Illinois where his first metals experience was straightening old nails to fix fences and build tree houses. The broken-nosed anvil that was on the farm was only really used as a step stool to explore bolt bins in a soggy old machine shed.
Experimenting with welding, in his friend’s garage, for a high school art project later led him into a sculpture program and eventually metalsmithing and blacksmithing at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He followed college with work for professional blacksmiths as well as a variety of jobs in Vermont and New York including but not limited to: landscaping, logging, carpentry, snowmaking plant controller, welding, and snowcat operator. Alongside all of this work he continued to explore his own sculptural or functional metalwork for exhibition or occasional sale.
Encouraged by some substantial metal work opportunities Greg transitioned into a full time metalsmith. He established Transit Forge with a move to Pennsylvania and marriage to Metals/Jewelry Professor Cappy Counard of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (www.cappycounard.com) who continues to be his most honest critic and greatest supporter.
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Résumé
| Greg Gehner | |
|---|---|
| ggehner@transitforge.com | |
| EDUCATION: | |
| 1997 | BFA, Magna Cum Laude, Metalsmithing, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) |
| PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: | |
| 2005 - present | Owner/Operator, Transit Forge, Edinboro, Pennsylvania |
| 2005 | Demonstrator, Hot Forging Techniques, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania |
| 2003-2005 | Construction Subcontractor, Germantown, New York |
| 2000-2003 | Welder, Trailsign Project Coordinator, Terrain Park Obstacle Fabricator, Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe,Vermont |
| 2001 | Iron Studio Assistant, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina |
| 2000 | Demonstrator, Power Hammer Tooling, Spring Hammer-In, Vermont Area Blacksmithing Group, South Walden, Vermont |
| 1999 | Blacksmith/Fabricator, Medwedeff Forge and Design, Murphysboro, Illinois |
| 1998 | Blacksmithing Shop Assistant, Rick Smith, Murphysboro, Illinois |
| 1996-1997 | Craft Instructor, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale |
| EXHIBITIONS: | |
| 2009-2010 | Tecumseh Art Trail Outdoor Exhibition, Tecumseh, Michigan |
| 2009 | 86th Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pennsylvania |
| 2007 | Kingston Sculpture Biennial, Kingston, New York |
| 2007 | 84th Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pennsylvania |
| 2006 | Hardwick Sculpture Biennial, Village of Hardwick, Vermont |
| 2005 | Nuts & Bolts, P & T Surplus, Kingston, New York |
| 2004 | Waves of Light, Pocketbook Factory, Hudson, New York |
| 2004 | Nuts & Bolts, P & T Surplus, Kingston, New York |
| 2002 | Innovative Tools for Personal Use, SNAG/3M Competition, Center for Visual Arts, Denver, Colorado |
| 2002 | Red Hot: Heated Works, Studio Place Arts, Barre, Vermont |
| 2001 | Member Art Exhibit, Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, Vermont |
| 2001 | Exposed! Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, Vermont |
| 2000 | Sculptural Object/Functional Art (SOFA), Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois |
| 2000 | Exhibition in Print 2000, Metalsmith Magazine, August Issue |
| 2000 | Exposed! Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, Vermont |
| 1999 | SIMS Metals Conference Exhibition, University Museum, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale |
| 1998 | Rickert Ziebold Trust Award Competition, University Museum, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Co-winner |
| AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS: | |
| 2009 | 500 Tables: Inspiring Interpretations of Function and Style, Lark Books |
| 2008 | 500 Chairs: Celebrating Traditional and Innovative Designs, Lark Books |
| 2001 | SOFA Chicago Exhibition Catalog, Expressions of Culture, Inc. |
| 2000 | Exhibition in Print 2000, Metalsmith Magazine, August Issue |
| 1998 | Rickert Ziebold Trust Award, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale |
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