John Rais is a blacksmith known for his architectural work, vessels, and furniture. John primarily works in steel, titanium, and copper, and is best known for his firescreens. John was born and raised in Burlington, Massachusetts

Burlington, Massachusetts

Burlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,498 at the 2010 census.- History :It is believed that Burlington takes its name from the English town of Bridlington, however this has never been confirmed....

, the youngest of seven children. John was introduced to blacksmithing in a sculpture class at the age of 18. He went to college at the Massachusetts College of Art

Massachusetts College of Art

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a publicly-funded college of visual and applied art, founded in 1873. It is one of the oldest art schools, the only publicly-funded free-standing art school in the United States, and was the first art college in the United States to grant an artistic degree...

, graduating in 1995. John received his masters degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art, after which he worked at Peters Valley Craft Center as a department head. He has run his own blacksmithing studio since 1998, and now lives in Massachusetts.

Teaching

Session 2 Instructor in Iron, "Intersections", Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC (Summer 2010)

Adjunct Instructor, Purchase College, State University of New York, Purchase, (Fall 2007)
Senior Lecturer, University of the Arts

University of the Arts (Philadelphia)

The University of the Arts is one of the United States' oldest universities dedicated to the arts. Its campus makes up part of the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia...

, Philadelphia, PA (Fall 2004 - Spring 2006)

Adjunct Professor, State University of New York

State University of New York

The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...

at New Paltz (2005)

Adjunct Instructor, County College of Sussex (2003)

Departmental Head of Blacksmithing, Peters Valley Craft Center (1997–2001)

Publications include

• Artscope Magazine
• Philadelphia Home
• Milford Magazine
• Departures magazine
• Ritz-Carlton magazine
• Metalsmith
• American Craft

Awards

• Residency in Applied Design, SUNY Purchase 2007
• Residency, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Kohler, WI. (2006)
• Artists Choice Award, Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, D.C. (2004)
• Best Metals Design, Philadelphia Furniture and Furnishings Show, Philadelphia, PA (2002)
• Residency at Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ (1998)
• Albert and Peggy DeSalle Merit Award (1997, 1996)
• Pace Gallery Award (1995)