APPRENTICESHIP SUMMARY
This metal-based apprenticeship pairs mentor George Brace with his daughter, Patricia Brace, for 100 hours of one-on-one training at their family forge in Cherryfield, Maine, which dates back to 1802. Patricia’s first goal is to complete Level I of the ABANA curriculum, gaining expertise in core blacksmithing skills such as tapering, bending, heat-treating, and forge-welding, culminating in the creation of a gate latch. The second goal is to advance to Level II of the ABANA curriculum, focusing on small-scale joinery, forge welding, and classic scroll techniques, with the final project being a decorative grille. The third goal is a collaboration with George that will debut during this year’s annual Maine Craft Weekend statewide studio tour, blending the skills Patricia has learned and deepening their mentor-mentee collaboration.
MENTOR
George Brace (Milbridge, ME)
George Brace is a skilled blacksmith and craftsman with decades of experience, specializing in traditional and custom forged metalwork. He has worked for over 40 years in the Ricker Blacksmith Shop in Cherryfield, Maine, a historic site founded in 1802, where he has honed his craft and passed on his knowledge. George is known for his expertise in forging spiral staircases, gates, and other intricate ironworks. In addition to his hands-on work, he is dedicated to sharing his craft through teaching and mentoring, inspiring future generations of blacksmiths.
“The art of Blacksmithing feels like Alchemy to me . Forging the vision of your mind’s eye is the challenge. To share that with my daughter is a blessing.” – George Brace
APPRENTICE
Patricia Brace (Waterboro, ME)
Patricia Brace is a Maine-based interdisciplinary artist whose practice examines the relationship between the body, place, and crisis, focusing on how we coexist with nature during a rapidly changing climate. Her work spans performance, sculpture, and installation.
Brace currently teaches at Maine College of Art & Design and previously taught at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. She is set to participate in the Arctic Circle Residency in 2025.
Her work has been exhibited nationally, including at PS122 Gallery, Gary Snyder Project Space, and SOHO20 in Manhattan, as well as Ortega y Gasset Projects, Smack Mellon, and Trestle Gallery in Brooklyn. Maine-based exhibitions include 82 Parris Street, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Brace has received grants such as the Kindling Fund and MECA&D’s Professional Development Grant. She is a co-founder of the Performance Art Initiative, Sine Gallery, and GROUNDWORK retreat. Her work is held in the permanent collections of the Portland Museum of Art and Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in NYC.
“I have always admired my dad’s blacksmithing, especially his spiral staircases, which I often reference in my work. I’ve dreamed of creating a spiral staircase with him to perform on, and this apprenticeship is the first step. Learning blacksmithing with my dad is essential to both the craft and content of my work, reflecting our familial history through the medium and building our future creative collaboration.” – Patricia Brace