​On a chilly April evening in 1998 seven bench jewelers met over pizza and beer at Stuft Pizza on Third Street in Bend (now Pho Viet Cafe) to discuss what was to become the Central Oregon Metal Arts Guild. (COMAG) What started 20 years ago as an association of a handful of goldsmiths, both self employed and working at various jewelry stores in Bend and Sisters, has grown into a group of creative metal artisans working in a variety of metal disciplines throughout Central Oregon.

Early on the group grew as jewelry makers of various levels of experience joined. Then in the early 2000’s the first blacksmiths, steel fabricators and even a bronze caster started to show up. Today membership hovers around 50 paid members with jewelers making up about half of that number. Meetings happen the first Tuesday of each month with the location moving from one studio/workshop to another as different members host. Meetings usually consist of regular business that keeps the guild running, a demonstration and plenty of quality social time.

Since it’s second year COMAG has sponsored a member show, the first one being held in the now defunct Art Central’s Mirror Pond Gallery. Last year it was held in the old Liberty Theatre on Wall Street. In between it spent a couple of years downstairs in the Oxford Hotel next to 10 Below and was occasionally hosted by members with retail locations. In the early years the show had a collaboration theme and to participate any member had to collaborate with another on at least one project. This is no longer a requirement but the shows always dazzle with an impressive array of local talent.

Of the original seven members four are still active in the group, have served as president at one time or another and are still working full time in their craft. The first president, Steven Douglas and his wife Elyse own The Sunstone Store in downtown Bend. John Paul runs John Paul Designs, also in downtown Bend. MaryJo Weiss is Josepha Weiss Designs at Torch Jewelry Collective and James Dixon is the lead goldsmith at Saxons. The last two presidents have been blacksmiths; Kellen Bateham (now the Education Czar for COMAG) and currently, Hunter Dahlberg of Orion Forge. To put things in perspective the current vice president, Ashley Sholtes, who’s work can be found a The Workhouse, was only 10 years old when COMAG was formed.

To celebrate its first 20 years current president Hunter Dahlberg will be hosting at his Orion Forge (members only) with the forge lit and hammers on hand for members to make small projects and to collaborate on making a fire pit we intend to be using by the end of the meeting. Orion Forge, by the way, won this year’s firepit competition at Winter Fest.

COMAG’s stated mission from the beginning has been to support education, inspiration and collaboration in the metal arts. To this end, beside the monthly meetings, COMAG maintains a scholarship fund in the name of Peter W. Small a bronze caster and past president of the group who was an unfailing supporter of that mission. If you have any questions or interest in joining COMAG more information can be found on our FB page or at http://cometalartsguild.blogspot.com.