Conference 2025
Grave Marker -Forging Future Remembrance!
a project of
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Join Our Conference on Grave Markers: October 9th-12th, 2025
Discover the sustainable, innovative, and meaningful grave markers crafted by local blacksmiths. This conference will delve into:
Unique, High-Quality Craftsmanship: Tailored designs that honor loved ones.
Support for Local Economies: Preserve regional traditions and boost local businesses.
Environmental Responsibility: Reduce carbon footprints with locally sourced, recyclable metals.
Cultural Preservation: Revitalize disappearing customs and traditions.
Modern Adaptation: Blend contemporary needs with traditional values for personalized memorials.
Be part of a movement that supports healing, cultural identity, and environmental sustainability. Join us to learn, share, and celebrate this important tradition!
Thursday 9th October
16.00-20.00
Arriving and StartUp. Find directions.
Welcome to the Forge! Grab a coffee and snacks, and join us in the workshop. Let's take a tour and get to know the place.
18.00-20.00 Sauna
Friday 10th October
7.30-8.30
Breakfast Matsal
8.30-9.30
Welcome and Introduction
Samlingsal
With Prof. Heiner Zimmermann and Tobias Birgersson
9.30-10.30
Contemporary Interpretations of Historic Blacksmithing. Samlingsal
With Jokum Lind Jensen
10.30-11.00
Fika
11.00-12.00
Modern adaption of Grave Markers
Samlingsal
With Prof. Heiner Zimmermann
12.00-13.30
Lunch Matsal
13.30-17.00
Workshops and Demonstrations
- Big Workshop "Enamle work" Johannes Postlmayr
- Projectroom 1 "Working with Bones" Klara Eriksson
- Small Workshop "Small Casting" Karolina Hägg
- Big Workshop "Texturing" Prof. Rick Smith
- Big Workshop "Engraving" Pierce Healy
- Formsal "Ideation around Death" Marcelo Ferreira
- Small Workshop "Forging Symbols" Antti Nieminen
- Seminarroom "Sketching" Jokum Lind Jensen
- Samlingsal "Incubator" Möteplats Steneby
18.00
BBQ Foodtruck outside the Workshop
17.00-20.00
Open Forum and Socializing
17.30 Talk: "What is Knowledge? Artistic Research in Blacksmithing" Gustav Thane
18.30 Talk "Gravecrosses from Finland" Antti Nieminen
19.30 Opening IronNote Exhibtion
20.00
Sauna and Pub
Saturday 11th October
7.30 - 8.30
Breakfast Matsal
8.30-9.30
Art work based on Death
With Prof. Jorge Manilla
9.30-10.30
Idea Development
With Delyth Done MBE
10.30-11.00
Fika
11.00-12.30
Group Work. Question Generating around Grave Markers.
12.30-13.30
Lunch Matsal
13.30-17.00
Workshops and Demonstrations
- Big Workshop "Enamle work" Johannes Postlmayr
- Projectroom 1 "Working with Bones" Klara Eriksson
- Small Workshop "Small Casting" Karolina Hägg
- Big Workshop "Texturing" Prof. Rick Smith
- Big Workshop "Engraving" Pierce Healy
- Formsal "Ideation around Death" Marcelo Ferreira
- Small Workshop "Forging Symbols" Antti Nieminen
- Seminarroom "Sketching" Jokum Lind Jensen
Samlingsal "Incubator" Möteplats Steneby
18.00
BBQ Foodtruck outside the Workshop
17.00-20.00
Open Forum and Socializing
17.30 Talk: "How Art shapes our Understanding of Loss and Remembrance" by Jan Hilmersson
18.30 Talk:"The Body in Metal" by Annie Higgins
19.30 Talk: "Corona Flowers" by Geert van der Vossen
20.00
Sauna and Pub
Sunday 12th October
9.00-12.00
Open Forum, open workshop and Socializing
Exhibition Opportunity
We invite you to exhibit your artwork in our small art hall. We ask you to create a piece that explores themes of death in some form. The artwork must not exceed 50cm in any dimension. Your work will be showcased for the duration of the conference. You are responsible for arranging the transport of your artwork.
Open Forum
Do you have ideas about Grave Markers and Blacksmithing? We offer you an open forum to share your insights. You can give a talk, host a workshop, or provide a demonstration for the participants. We can schedule you in every day from 17:00 to 20:00.
When registering, please inform us if you plan to do a talk or a workshop.
Travel by plane:
Airport: Landvetter Göteborg
From Landvetter Airport, take the Flygbussarna bus to the main train station, Nils Ericson Terminalen (last stop). Walk to Göteborg C train station and take a train to Mellerud. There are bus connections to Dals Långed. If you inform us in advance of your arrival time at Mellerud train station, we can arrange to pick you up.
Travel by Train:
The closest train stations are Mellerud from Göteborg, Ed from Oslo, and Åmål from Stockholm. There are bus connections to Dals Långed. If you inform us in advance of your arrival time at the train station, we can arrange to pick you up.
Travel by car:
Navigate to Enetsvägen,666 95 Dals Långed. You find parking spaces and car charging are on site.
A place to sleep
We can offer a simple room at “Folket Huset” where you can use your mattress if you need a free place to sleep.
If you prefer rented accommodation, there are rooms available within walking distance on AirBnB.
Small Camping for mobile homes and camping cars.
Driving Distance:
Laxsjöns Friluftsgård Camping
Kanalvillan
Baldersnäs Herrgård
Högsbyns Leisure Center and Campsite
Project Manager
Tobias Birgersson
Cell +46707594492
Project Manager
Heiner Zimmermann
Cell +46 768898186
Call for Proposals
We invite concept proposals for innovative grave markers that integrate the craftsmanship of local blacksmiths with contemporary challenges. Selected proposals (8-10) will receive funding and mentorship to develop and realize their concepts. The outcomes will be documented, published, and exhibited.
Documentation
The entire research project will be well documented. This comprehensive documentation will include recordings and transcripts of all talks, detailed summaries of workshop results, descriptions of innovative approaches, and the concepts developed during the project. Additionally, the outcomes of the grave marker competition will be showcased. All these materials will be made publicly accessible, providing valuable resources for further research, education, and practical application.
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