Lappeenranta, Finland | 17.6.2025​

09:30   |  Coffee & registration at Lappeenranta campus  

10:00  |  Welcome 

What is IronNotes? 

Public art education at LAB University af Applied Sciences,  

Sampo Malin / LAB  University af Applied Sciences  

Creative Production: Bridging Art and Digital Manufacturing, 

Ilkka Poutiainen and Marika Hirvimäki / LUT University   

Graveyards – A Public Space for Blacksmiths?  

Heiner Zimmermann / Gothenburg University  

Q&A 

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12:00  |  Lunch (at own expense) & Workshop tours at Lappeenranta campus (pre-registration, limited places) 

13:30  |  Programme continues  

Iron Vilnius: Contexts of Iron in History and Contemporary Art,   

Jurgita Ludavičiené / Lithuanian National Museum of Art 

Fragility of Form: Sculpting Organic Line with Structural Steel, Kirsi Kaulanen / Sculptor

Twisted forms by sculptor Kimmo Schroderus, Kimmo  Schroderus / Sculptor


From the blacksmith’s hammer to the crown’s jewel, Carin EM Reinders / CODA

  Q&A  

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15:10  |  Coffee break  

15:40  |  Programme continues  

Sustainable Visual Arts Network, Green Art calculator and Turku Ecological Guide for Public Art, Saara Korpela / WAM Turku City Art Museum   |  Paula Toppila / IHME Helsinki

Shaping the future with Fossil-free steels, Kalle Lipiäinen / LUT University  

 Q&A  

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Closing Summary  

What Next in IronNotes:  European Biennial Show of Blacksmithing Art, Stia, Italy  

17:15  |  The seminar ends  

Sampo Malin  |  Lecturer of Sculpture, LAB-university of applied sciences, Sculptor

Presentation: Public art education at LAB University af Applied Sciences

Works as a lecturer in LAB-university of applied sciences. Responsible for spatial arts education, coordinator of YAMK (master) studies focused in public art

Marika Hirvimäki  |  Project researcher / LUT University

Presentation: Creative Production: Bridging Art and Digital Manufacturing

Marika Hirvimäki, M.Sc. (Tech.) has worked for 16 years as a project researcher at the Laser Processing Laboratory at LUT University (LUT Laser). She has been involved in research and innovation tasks that support the laboratory’s activities by writing national and international project applications and working as a project manager for multidisciplinary projects that integrate technology, business, and various pedagogical methods. Her contributions include the implementation of the Laser Art Residency and organizing 3D printing training courses for diverse target gro

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  Ilkka Poutiainen  |  Docent, Research Manager / LUT University

Presentation: Creative Production: Bridging Art and Digital Manufacturing

PhD Ilkka Poutiainen is a laser material processing specialist with almost 20 years’ experience in the field. He is currently a team leader and heads up the laboratory of Laser Processing and Additive Manufacturing. His expertise lies in different laser processes, optics, laser-material interaction, and monitoring and measuring systems. Additionally, llkka has 10 years’ experience as a research scientist for the Laboratory of Steel Structures, where he has worked on numerous projects related to the strength of welded structures. In his doctoral dissertation, he developed a FEM-based fatigue assessing method for fatigue loaded structures. 

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Heiner Zimmermann  |  Professor of Metal Art / HDK University of Gothenburg

Presentation: Graveyards – A Public Space for Blacksmiths?

Heiner Zimmermann combines traditional forms with contemporary design and art. Growing up in his father’s forge, he developed a deep understanding of forging techniques and traditions. In 1991, he completed his formal training as the national champion and received the ”Good Design Award,” among other recognitions. 

Supported by scholarships, he traveled and worked with renowned metal artists across Europe and the United States during his early career. He also pursued further studies in conservation and art history in Venice. After obtaining his master’s certificate in 1998, he took over his father’s forge in Pliezhausen. 

Over the years, Heiner’s work has been exhibited internationally and has received awards. He also secured EU research funding to explore the role of blacksmiths in creating grave markers. 

Heiner’s work respects the forging tradition and the materials while incorporating contemporary design elements. Each piece reflects a thoughtful process, balancing craftsmanship and modern needs. 

Kirsi Kaulanen, Sculptor

Presentation: Title to be confirmed

The forms in sculptor Kirsi Kaulanen’s (b. 1969) works grow out of interwoven details and ornaments. Kaulanen works between public and independent art, playing with the scale of her sculptures. One of her most recent public works is the memorial to President Mauno Koivisto, Välittäjä (“The Mediator”), in Helsinki. In polished steel, the sculptor is fascinated by its immaterial quality—how light and reflections create constant change. “I want to sculpt something organic, delicately feminine, lace-like, out of hard steel.

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Jurgita Ludavičienė  |  Assoc. Prof, Lithuanian National Museum of Art/ Vilnius Academy of Art 

Presentation; Iron Vilnius: Contexts of Iron in History and Contemporary Art 

Dr. Jurgita Ludavičienė is a chief exhibition curator at the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, an art critic, and an associate professor at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Her field of interest and research includes contemporary art, applied arts, author jewelry, and kitsch. Truth to material and the role of craftsmanship in contemporary art are especially important to her. She curates exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad, writes texts, edits books, and seeks connections between social processes and their expression in the artistic domain. Since 2014 she has organized and curated the METALLOphone biennial, the international event celebrating metal art and contemporary jewellery in Vilnius.  She’s a member of AICA and the Lithuanian Artist’s Union. 

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Kimmo Schroderus  |  Sculptor

Presentation: Twisted forms by sculptor Kimmo Schroderus 

Kimmo Schroderus’ (b. 1970) career as a sculptor began in the 90s. His sculptures combine industrial materials and practices with an organic form language and traditional methods of sculpture, such as metal casting. His working process emphasizes the importance of the craft, of DIY, and a mastery of materials and techniques, as well as a striving to continually learn more. For Schroderus, his workspace is like a laboratory where he seeks out new ways of working on, shaping, or even deforming his materials. The long, arduous journey made by the sculptures to being finished works of art is a part of their content: it has to be visible from the execution of the sculpture that its creation has been a meaningful act for its maker. 

Saara Korpela  |  Project coordinator, WAM Turku City Art Museum 

Presentation: Sustainable Visual Arts Network, Green Art calculator and Turku Ecological Guide for Public Art 

Saara Korpela has worked as the eco-coordinator for Finnish art organizations, such as IHME Helsinki, Frame Contemporary Art Finland, Helsinki International Artist Programme – HIAP, Mustarinda, and ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival, and currently WAM Turku City Art Museum. She has helped develop practices and tools for reducing environmental impacts. The Green Art calculator (vihreataide.fi) for calculating the carbon footprint of art productions and exhibitions was launched in April 2024, and the Ecological Guide for Public Art in Turku was published in May 2025, outlining opportunities for integrating sustainability into processes and contracts related to public art. Korpela has studied environmental protection, waste and water management, sustainable development as well as translation and interpretation. 

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Paula Toppila  |  Executive director, Curator 

Presentation: Sustainable Visual Arts Network, Green Art calculator and Turku Ecological Guide for Public Art 

Paula Toppila is passionate about reflecting on the role of art and art institutions in the sustainability transformation. She has been working as the executive director and curator of the Pro Arte Art Foundation Finland since 2007. Toppila led the organizational change from the IHME Contemporary Art Festival to IHME Helsinki, which brings together art, science, and climate work since 2019. The aim of the organization is to promote freedom of art, eco-social education, a sustainable and democratic society, and a diverse good life. Recently Toppila has curated IHME Helsinki Commissions by artists Jana Winderen (NO, 2020), Katie Paterson (UK, 2021), Amar Kanwar (India, 2022), Hiwa K (Iraq, Kurdistan 2023) and Cooking Sections (UK, 2024) for public realm in Helsinki and Finland. He is currently preparing the IHME Helsinki 2025 commission with Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova that will open in August. She has served as vice-chair of the steering group for the Green Art (vihreataide.fi) website, chair of the Sustainable Visual Arts network, and continues to serve on the network’s steering group. Toppila holds a Master of Arts degree, majoring in art history. She has supplemented her expertise with training in curating and a degree in leadership&management.

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Carin EM Reinders  |  director CODA

Presentation: From the blacksmith’s hammer to the crown’s jewel

Carin E.M. Reinders studied art history and archaeology. 
Over the course of her 41-year career, she has held various positions and gained a wealth of experience. She served for 10 years as director of the Stedelijke Musea Zutphen, 8 years as director of the Dutch Textile Museum in Tilburg, and since 2008 has been the general director of CODA in Apeldoorn. Education, storytelling, science, and art are central themes in her work. Lifelong learning and a passion for people who bring colour to the world—makers, artists, writers, poets, and her colleagues at CODA—are at the heart of her mission. Her soul’s purpose: to empower through creativity, always with love, care, and curiosity.

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Kalle Lipiäinen  |  Post-doctoral researcher / LUT University

Presentation: Shaping the future with Fossil-free steels

Kalle Lipiäinen works as a postdoctoral researcher in the LUT University. The research work includes experimental testing and performance analysis of materials and structures. He has published forty scientific papers and helped industry to develop high performance products and structures with decreased CO2emissions.