STRIKE! Iron While It´s Hot!
Dates: November 5–7, 2026
Location: Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), Tallinn, Estonia
The event is free of charge and no advance registration is required.
Join us in Tallinn for the IronNotes event, hosted by Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA). The event brings together contemporary metal artists and makers to explore iron as a material in dialogue with traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design.
PROGRAMME
| 5 Nov Thursday | 18:00 Opening of the student exhibition “Strike in the Dark” Location: Kuldjala torn (Golden Leg Tower), Gümnaasiumi 1 |
| 6 Nov Friday | Location: EKA Auditorium A-101 9:30 Registration – Coffee 10:00 Welcome Address by Rector Hilkka Hiiop 10:05 Introduction to the symposium 10:15-14.30 Lectures (two coffee breaks with light snacks are included) 14:30 Lunch Break – Lunch at Participants’ Own Expense 16:00 Workshops and demos: – ”Is there a man in the house?” – Knife sharpening by Aleš Rezler (in the jewellery workshop B-504) – “Get Nailed!” – Nail Forging Workshop by Villu Mustkivi (in the smithy B-106) – ”No blacksmithing” demos with metal and glass by Taavi Teevet, Andra Jõgis, Rait Lõhmus (in the glass workshop B-604) ^ Please note that the workshops’ capacity is limited. Participants will be registered on site. 17:30 Guided tour at EKA 19:00 Opening of the STRIKE Exhibition – EKA Valge maja, Kotzebue 10 |
| 7 Nov Saturday | Location: EKA Auditorium A-101 10:00 Day Two – Welcome and Opening Words 10:15 Lectures (two coffee breaks with light snacks are included) 14:30 Lunch Break – Lunch at Participants’ Own Expense 16:00 Guided tour of decorative ironwork in Tallinn’s Old Town by Heigo Jelle 18:00 Opening of the exhibition ”Hardware” – Pika jala torn (Long Leg Tower), Pikk jalg 3 20:00 Social gathering |
| 8 Nov Sunday | 14:00 Informal Gathering at the young blacksmiths’ workshop, BBQ & Chill –Liimi 8 |
Lectures by:
Eik Hermann (PhD, philosopher, Estonian Academy of Arts), Ragnar Saage (PhD, archaeometallurgist, Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University), Julia Wild (researcher in cultural studies and jewellery history, Campus Gemstones and Jewellery, Trier University of Applied Sciences), Alexander Kamelhair (blacksmith and artist, Texas, USA), Will Maguire (blacksmith and artist, Australia), Peter Bauhuis (artist, Germany), Jun Ishikura (photographer, Japan), Raditya Mahardhika (designer and blacksmith, Indonesia), Karl-Erik Hiiemaa (conservator, Estonian National Museum), Aleš Rezler (blacksmith and knifemaker, Czech Republic/ Estonia), Sander Haugas (architect and blacksmith, Estonia), Nils Hint (blacksmith and educator, Estonian Academy of Arts), Urmas Lüüs (artist and educator, Estonian Academy of Arts).
The lectures will be livestreamed on EKA TV.