Doug Wilson received his BFA from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI., in 1973. A metalsmith since 1973, and operating his studio on Little Deer Isle since 1981, his work has been included in numerous private collections, national exhibitions and publications. He has been a demonstrator at several national and international blacksmithing conferences including six National Conferences for the Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA). He was previously an instructor at the Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI; the founder of and instructor for the Colby College Blacksmithing Jan Plan Program in Waterville, ME, and continues to teach at craft schools including Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, ME. and the Penland School of Crafts in Penland NC.
Professional Experience
- Blacksmith, Deer Isle, Maine 1981-present
- Board Member, Island Heritage Trust, 2017 to present
- Board member, Bagaduce Chorale, 2010 to present
- Bagaduce Chorale, member, 2003 to present
- Cabin Fever Theater, 2002 to 2015
- Demonstrator at six Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America Conferences
- Founder and Instructor, Colby College Blacksmitihing Program, 1990 to 2009
- Wooden Boat School, Blacksmithing for Boat Builders, 2003 to 2015
- Vice President, Maine Crafts Association, 1991-1993
- Board Member, Maine Crafts Association, 1987-1993
- Assistant Director & Facilities Coordinator, 1989, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
- Interim Director & Administrative Coordinator, 1988, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
- Maine Arts Commission Advisory Panelist, Chair: Crafts Panel 1986-1988
- Percent for Art Commission, Edmunds Consolidated School, Denneysville, ME, 1988
- Percent for Art Commission, Massabesic HS, Waterboro, ME, 1987
- Percent for Art Commission, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME, 1984
- Instructor, Jewelry and Metals, Madison Area Technical College, Madison, WI 1973-1980
Selected Exhibitions
- Maine Crafts Apprentice Program, seven month grant, 2016, Douglas E. Wilson, Master, James Crawford, Apprentice
- Maine Crafts Association/MacPage Gallery Show – “Artists in Their Studios”, Macpage, from November 10, 2017 through May 4, 2018 / MCA Artist’s in their Studios Grant
- Turtle Gallery, Deer Isle, Maine, 2015
- ‘Iron, Forged, Tempered, Quenched’, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX, 2011
- ‘Iron, 2010’, National Ornamental Metals Museum, Memphis, TN, traveling US through 2012. Traveling to:
- Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI, June 25-August 28, 2011
- University Museum, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, January 17-March 9, 2012
- Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, June 2012-October 2012
- ‘Functional Forged Ironwork’, Cape Fear Gallery, NC, 2011
- ‘Featured Metalsmith’, Michael Good Gallery, Rockport, ME, 2011
- ‘Douglas E. Wilson, Master Blacksmith’, at Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, ME, 2009
- ‘Bloom’, at Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA, 2006
- ‘ABANA Comes of Age’, National Ornamental Metals Museum, Memphsis, TN, 2004/2005
- Cape Fear Gallery Exhibition, Fayetteville, NC, Summer, 2011
- ‘Wings, Waves and Woods’, Island Heritage Trust, May 2009-2012
- ‘Wings, Waves and Woods’, Pearson Legacy Gallery, May 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Teaching
- MCA/Haystack, May 2018
- MCA Craft Apprentice Program, 2016
- Peter’s Valley: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
- New England Blacksmiths Fall 2014, Union, ME
- Haystack Open Door, 2011, 2012, 2013. 2014
- Wooden Boat 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 2015, 2016
- Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, June, 2011
- New England School of Metalwork, Auburn, ME., 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- New England School of Metalwork, A ‘Concept Development and Design for Blacksmiths: Exercises in Distilling Chaos’ August 2011
- Guild of Metalsmiths, Minnesota, 2010
- Maine Crafts Association, at Haystack, 2010
- Rocky Mountain Smiths, Colorado, 2010
- Penland School of Crafts, North Carolina, August, 2009
- New England School of Metalwork, Auburn, ME, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Peter’s Valley, 2011, 2013
- Visiting Artist, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2009
- Northwest Blacksmith’s Association, April 21-23, 2006
- ABANA, Demonstrator – ‘Design And Build’ 2004
