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In 2017, Karen Smith was already working full time as a metalsmith, but she wanted to learn the heritage skills of goldsmithing. Initially she was told, “Women don’t wield the hammer,” but through encouragement and support from her network, Smith had the opportunity to train with master craftsman Ibrahima Sow. She spent six months under his tutelage in Dakar, Senegal, learning the art of filigree. When she returned to the United States, she formed an organization called We Wield the Hammer, dedicated to teaching metalsmithing arts to women and girls of African descent in Oakland, California.
In this Story Circle, we journey with Karen and Adeniji Asabi-Shakir, a graduate of her program, through the chain of transmission and innovation that links three generations of experience with this ancient art form as it traveled from West Africa across the Atlantic. Folklife curator Diana Baird N’Diaye, our moderator, is connected to metalsmithing through her grandfather who was a goldsmith in Guyana, South America, and her own work as a jewelry artist. AccessibilityAmerican Sign Language interpretation and closed captions will be provided for this program. 2021 Smithsonian Folklife Festival This year, the Festival presents “Beyond the Mall: Making Matters,” a weekend series of online events that explore and celebrate the role of artisans in cultural sustainability. See the full schedule. |
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