Carol Kajorinne is a multidisciplinary artist building a career in the arts. She and her partner, Krev, through their business, Pike Lake Forge, along with the Thunder Giant Metalsmith Guild members, are building a community of people rejuvenating metalsmithing in Northwestern Ontario.
Carol has been lucky to learn from people who are still producing ironwork. “It’s a fascinating community,” Carol says. “Much of the art form has died with the people who produced it, so I have found that many blacksmiths are eager to share their knowledge. They want people to learn, and share with others.” Carol has learned much of what she knows from Dave Hanson, whom she met at North House Folk School, and has also worked with Thomas Latane. This June, she will be travelling to Raspberry Island to participate in a course. Otherwise, much of her blacksmithing knowledge is obtained through attending conferences, watching YouTube tutorials, and trial-and-error.
Carol feels that it was natural that she would discover a non-traditional career path. She knew she’d be happiest doing something physical. She grew up being very comfortable using tools and credits her dad, a jack-of-all-trades, as an inspiration. “He built a dump truck box one winter. I watched, and often helped him fix things and he inspired me so much. My parents owned their own business and have a creative nature. My mom always has done crafts and weaving. Both my parents build with their hands.” Her dad said Carol could do whatever she wanted and so she chose to become an artist. That was a little shock for her dad. But in order to get into art school, she had to go back to high school to pick up credits. That time was tough because she lived with a medical condition, lupus, which since has been in remission. “I learnt that with something like lupus, you have to believe you can heal, and you can’t stop. Stopping is the worst thing you can do. It was interesting timing – because it felt as though at the same moment I decided, “yes, I’m going to pursue a career in art”, I suddenly had lupus, which affected much of my life – I couldn’t do simple things like cut with scissors. So much was in question. It wasn’t until I got in to see the specialist, and had a high dose of medicine, that I began to believe, and feel that I could get better. I wasn’t hopeful until then.” Afterwards, she realized she should always keep her hands moving, and play piano so that there’s always something to fall back on. “It’s like tai chi for me, playing the piano.” Carol credits the spark she has today to this experience with lupus. Much of her ability with her body was hindered at the time, so once she was again able to work with her hands, she did so fiercely.
Working on her HBFA degree at Lakehead, her major focus was in sculpture. She graduated in 2010 and this multi-disciplinary artist has been building her portfolio ever since. She began to further develop the themes of life cycles and rebirth she had begun exploring through her Major Studio video project, “Self Portrait as a Sauna Stove”. Carol would paint or draw landscapes “en plein air” during the short time it takes for the sun to rise or set. Her intent was on looking at the growth and rhythms of the trees, watching and listening to the scene. The 2D works felt unfulfilling, and she decided to create something with metal – something more relatable to the 3D world surrounding her.
In 201 Carol began incorporating forged ironwork by creating metal hangers to display her acetate prints for the Preserving Harold Project. “As I heated and pounded the steel, my hammering precision along with my intent and presence in the moment strengthened (all-the-while thinking about my late uncle Harold, his house, and family). The process of blacksmithing also relates to a common theme of rebirth that permeates my work, as all elements (water, air, earth, fire) are required when transforming steel.” The Preserving Harold Project marks the beginning of Carol’s journey with steel, and the forging of familial connections. Now, as the Preserving Harold Project evolves, it may not directly relate to the loss of her Uncle Harold, but continues to explore family, property, valuables and values, and how we all long to preserve someone or some things – or moments in time.
Life as an artist and creator can be isolating, but Carol has never thought that way. She believes that creating community through art and collaboration is the way to bring people together. Her approach and personal philosophy was behind the creation of the Satellite Studios Artist Collective (SSAC). This community group’s work is highly visible throughout Thunder Bay. They designed the “Art Bus” – Thunder Bay Transit’s tribute to art on wheels.
As with many younger people, the draw to move away from Thunder Bay after graduation was appealing but she recalls (now SSAC member) Sam Shahsahabi saying to her, “We need you here.” She had met Sam through her participation in Art Installation in Public Spaces; a summer course (LU Professor) Sam led in 2010. “It was because of that program that I realized I didn’t have to leave Thunder Bay,” she reflected. “As a student you assume you have to leave to pursue art, but in the digital age you can stay wherever you are to create.” She also stayed as a result of something her friend, Kyley Bloomquist (owner of Elfarrow Apparel) said to her, “Carol, some people have their roots.” Since recognizing the depth of this statement, Carol has felt those roots strongly and feels blessed to be living at Pike Lake.
Last spring, Carol moved into her great- grandmother’s (aka Mummu’s) homestead on Pike Lake - the old Jaarvi Store. She’s not off the grid, but she doesn’t have hot water, a shower or toilet -- living simply with a sauna and an outhouse. She grew up visiting this place from her home further down the lake as a child, and is inspired to keep creating as generations did before her.
As a new homeowner, Carol needed to land a full-time job as well as spend time to develop her skills as a blacksmith. She was delighted to be hired in a new position at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery as Public Programming Coordinator. Within that role, she has assisted the Gallery in receiving funding to host a Creative Aging Symposium this September 21st to 23rd at the Gallery, and will be working towards creating more sustaining programs.
“My Mummu taught me to love one another without pettiness,” she says. Carol tries to live up to that ideal but admits, “it’s no simple task, and it’s not something I fully embody, but rather a life-long process, somewhat like blacksmithing.” She feels she has been lucky enough to be mentored by so many people and supported by her family, that she never goes it alone. She knows there is always someone out there who will collaborate and help with building a nest here in Thunder Bay.
