Classes, Luxury Metalwork, and Team Builds
Affordable
We haven’t gotten more expensive. In fact we added an even cheaper class just recently. Starting at $150, our steel hook class is an outright bargain for quality forging time AND instruction by a real life human. Take a class with us (all skill levels and abilities are welcome)
Independent
Clay and Steel is a small blacksmithing business near the Richmond shoreline. Celeste has been blacksmithing professionally for 13 years and has now opened her smithy to to the community via “open forge” nights, iron smelts, events, parties, and classes.
We are not associated with the Crucible which is a non-profit in Oakland.
Artist Community
Our Classroom Smithy is located within the hard-working collective of artists at Seaport Studios. We support other local artists, makers, designers, and our local community.
Support us!: Request flyers in the mail or pickup some at our booth near The Foundry Stage.
American Made
All our products and services are performed right here in the Bay, near the Richmond shoreline… smells wonderful here.
Strong Allies
Woke AF up in here.
Swing a hammer at Maker Faire:
Use the button to reserve a time slot and participate in a guided session with our team.
Hotworking involves the forge and flames and is intended for determined people over 16 years old. Coldworking involves no fire and is good for families or younger attendees. Both involve our delightful staff and include a safety demonstration as well as protective gear.
General rules:
NO
NO: Open Toed Shoes
NO: Alcohol or Bud
NO: Synthetic clothing near forge, it DOES catch fire. We WILL have to put you out
NO: Children under 16 for hotworking.
NO: Children under 10 for coldworking.
NO: Kings
YES
YES: Play with metal
YES: All abilities or disabilities welcome.
YES: People nervous about skin burns (coldworking is fun too)
YES: Arrive 10 minutes prior for Safety Experience and hotworking Waiver (REQUIRED)
YES: It’s free, but you can buy a sticker pack or donate
Drunk or otherwise inebriated guests will not be allowed to participate.
About Clay and Steel (and our friends)
Blacksmithing
Clay and Steel is Celeste Flores and her crew. A for-profit business based in Richmond CA, they offer a full course menu of metalwork:
Take blacksmithing classes for all skill levels and difficulty. Welding, Jewelry, and Leatherworking too!
Why/How are you a blacksmith? Click and find out! (I taught at The Crucible for 12 years -Celeste)
Hire a blacksmith for an private class, an event, a Team Build or for custom forged metalwork.
Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths
SIBS is an intentionally inclusive organization aiming to help further the art of blacksmithing by smoothing social and economic barriers to entry.
While grants and scholarships are the SIBs’ most visible productions, SIBs also provides one on one mentorship to new, dedicated blacksmiths, and promote smiths who may have been traditionally underrepresented.
The aim of the mentorship program: get people past “a couple of classes” into something more serious and lasting. It pairs experienced smiths with inexperienced ones in a somewhat official (yet virtual) manner.
Seaport Studios
Seaport Studios is a studio space renting to all sorts of independent arts businesses:
A crew who makes giant dragons that breathe fire and light up. With a DJ booth, obviously.
A blacksmith, one you may have heard of, makes her home here.
Leather, Wood, a Sea Serpent destroying a giganic sailing ship, oil painting, parties, ceramics, fire performers, clowns(!?), and a cat named Sauron.
Department of Spontaneous Combustion
The DSC Crew are a multi-talented grouping of artists specializing in FIRE SCULPTURES. Just fire all the time. And sewing. But not fire sewing, probably.
The DSC provides training in welding and industrial fire arts on an appointment basis and is locally represented by Jenny Mount in Seaport Studios.
CA Blacksmith Association (CBA)
The CBA is the largest organization for blacksmiths in the nation. They train smiths, run “Hammer-In” events, and promote the art of the smith in a bi-monthly magazine called California Blacksmith. They do much more as well!
Classes not for you but still want to feed our blacksmiths? Donate, grab a sticker, or buy shirts!
There’s other colors too. Grey for example.
California Blacksmith Association
The California Blacksmith Association (CBA) is the nation’s largest group of smiths and holds events all over the state.
Clay and Steel offers CBA Level 1 courses for people who are interested in learning techniques, traditional and modern in a structured and more formal manner.
Smiths or students who are interested in becoming an “official” blacksmith can receive their level 1 certification at Clay and Steel; Classes in the “CBA curriculum” are geared towards competency and professional workmanship.
Clay and Steel Membership is available for forge access and guided or independent practice.
Thanks for looking. Hope to see you at my shop!
-Celeste