Blacksmith Mark Pugmarti begins to tell the tale of how he became involved in creating a gate that will help a Ukrainian blacksmith's family settle in Canada.
Mark's Role in Creating a Special Gate
In April of this year I was asked by a fellow blacksmith if I would be interested in a great cause to help create a special gate. The gate was designed by Irina Tereschenko, new to Canada from the Ukraine, who arrived in Waterloo with two young daughters in December 2022.
After meeting Rob Martin of Thak Ironworks she agreed to design a gate with the intention of auctioning it off, and the proceeds going to help with supporting her family.
Tereschenko a metal designer, along with her husband and blacksmith Sergii Skorobohatskyh, had an artist blacksmith business in the Ukrainian city of Bila Tserkva before the war. He is now fighting in the Ukrainian army defending his homeland.
Martin asked 8 other Ontario blacksmiths to help bring the design to reality with each smith contributing a portion of the design. The gate will eventually be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to help the family.
It will be on display at the CanIron XIII event at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus, On Aug 3-6.
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