'Aha Hana Lima 2025-2026

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Lisa Geertsen is an artist blacksmith from Seattle, WA, and the owner of Firelight Forge, which she has operated since 2007 creating custom architectural and sculptural work. From 2013–2020 she managed the Metal and Stone Sculpture Studios at Pratt Fine Arts Center, where she also taught and developed classes in blacksmithing, stone carving, bronze casting, and fabrication. She is currently Instructional Technician in Sculpture at the University of Washington.

She earned her BFA in Sculpture from West Virginia University (1997) and her MFA in Blacksmithing and Metalsmithing from Southern Illinois University (2023). In addition to working as a blacksmith and fabricator, she has been deeply involved with the Northwest Blacksmith Association as a teacher and gallery coordinator, and is a founding member of the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths.

Lisa has taught nationally at Penland, Haystack, and John C. Campbell Folk School, and has demonstrated for groups including Fire on the Mountain Blacksmithing Festival and Florida Artist Blacksmith Association. She has also shared her expertise through virtual programs, workshops, and guest lectures at universities.

Her work has been exhibited across the U.S. and Europe, including her largest solo exhibition in Olympia, WA (2018), featuring 48 pieces from her Hearts series. Through her teaching, exhibitions, and community-building, Geertsen is committed to broadening representation and diversity within the blacksmithing field.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Participated in CollaboratioNZ, an international artist collaboration in Whangarei, New Zealand, with an exhibition and auction in 2025.
• Completed an Open Studio Residency at Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine.
• Taught “Sparkle Magic: Forge Welding and Weld Forging” at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Pennsylvania.
• Took part in the EMMA International Artist Collaboration in Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Received a $25,000 Paul Allen Foundation Arts Accelerator Grant on behalf of the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Founding Member, Governance Committee Member, Treasurer, Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths
• Illinois Metalsmith Society, Past President
• Key Organizer, Inaugural Group Build and Founders Meeting of the Society of Inclusive  Blacksmiths, Government Camp, OR

 MOLOKAI RECEPTION, PRESENTATION AND LECTURE

Friday, November 21, 2024, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Molokai Art Center, 1630 Farrington Ave, Kualapuu

Free and open to the public!

CLICK FOR LECTURE DETAILS

MOLOKAI WORKSHOP: SMALL-SCALE NON-FERROUS FORRAGING: FORM AND FUNCTION

Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 9 AM - 5 PM

Sunday, November 23, 2025 from 9 AM - 5 PM

Private Residence, Kualapuu, details provided after registration

MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT: 10

Tuition + $35 materials Fee 

Registration closes: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

REGISTER FOR MOLOKAI'S WORKSHOP HERE

O'AHU ARTIST RECEPTION, PRESENTATION AND LECTURE

Friday, January 23, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM

University of Hawaii Manoa, Art Department, 2535 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu

Art Auditorium or Metals Studio

Free and open to the public! 

CLICK FOR LECTURE DETAILS

O'AHU WORKSHOP: SMALL-SCALE NON-FERROUS FORRAGING: FORM AND FUNCTION

Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 9 AM - 5 PM

Sunday, January 25, 2026, from 9 AM - 5 PM

University of Hawaii Manoa, Art Department, 2535 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu

Metals Studio

MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT: 14
Tuition +  $35 Materials Fee 
Registration closes: Wednesday, January 7, 2025

REGISTER FOR O'AHU'S WORKSHOP HERE

MAUI ARTIST RECEPTION, PRESENTATION AND LECTURE

Friday, March 6, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center, 2841 Baldwin Road, Makawao

Solarium

Free and open to the public! 

CLICK FOR LECTURE DETAILS

MAUI WORKSHOP: SMALL-SCALE NON-FERROUS FORAGING: FORM AND FUNCTION

Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 9 AM - 5 PM

Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 9 AM - 5 PM

Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center - 2841 Baldwin Ave, Makawao

Jewelry Studio

MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT: 10

Tuition + $35 Materials Fee 

Registration closes: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

REGISTER FOR MAUI'S WORKSHOP HERE

Hawai'i Craftsmen, Molokai Art Center* & Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center* Member:  $300 + materail fee
Hawai'i Craftsmen Student Member:  $150 + material fee
Non-Members:  $400 + material fee

An additional $35 Lab Fee is payable to the Hawaii Craftsmen on the first day of the workshop. 

*Molokai Art Center & Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center Members - you will need to get the promo code before you register to access the Hawai'i Craftsmen Member rate. If you have not received it, please contact your organization's membership director or administrative assistant for the code. 

A LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE

This scholarship is underwritten by the Hawai’i Craftsmen Endowment Fund, and was started with funds donated by Frances Pickens, one of Hawaii Craftsmens founding members and an award winning metal artist.

Deadline for the Molokai application: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Notification of Molokai scholarship awardee will be announced Monday November 17, 2025.

Notification of O'ahu scholarship awardee will be announced Monday January 12, 2026.

Deadline for the Maui application: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Notification of Maui scholarship awardee will be announced Monday February 23, 2026.

Hawai’i Craftsmen will provide one scholarship per workshop that covers the cost of the registration.  If you want to ensure a spot in the workshop please register. If you are awarded the scholarship we will refund your registration fees. The applicant must be a current Hawai’i Craftsmen member. If you are not a member, you must submit a membership application and pay the membership fee before you can apply for the scholarship.