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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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