WHAT would you make with this piece of metal?

For most people this would be a scratch-the-head-moment. A doorstop, paperweight, a prop to keep sash windows open, a measuring tool?

But forged metal designers from around the world, this was a fun challenge that explored their technical expertise and creativity which has resulted in extraordinary and beautiful pieces.

#150mm Challenge was initially set as a student project. Artist blacksmith students at Hereford College of Arts (HCA) were set a project by lecturer Ambrose Burne.

Established initially as a warm-up project for second and third-year students to prepare them for metal forging, no one had any idea that this would become a worldwide phenomenon.

Ambrose picked a piece of metal measuring 150mm x 20mm x 20mm and gave students three weeks to explore what was possible with metal forging without adding extra materials to their pieces.

Similar to recipes, forging has five key ingredients. You can use all or just a couple, but when combined they can make so many different things. The five ingredients in metal forging are:

1. Forging down (which means to squash it)

2. Bending and forming (to twist, shape and bend)

3. Punching and cutting (does exactly what it says on the tin)

4. Forged welding (sticking it back together)

5. Upsetting (pushing it into itself)

Hereford Times: Scultpture by Ambrose BurneScultpture by Ambrose Burne

This sculpture by Ambrose Burne demonstrates all five of forging's five ingredients

Students were encouraged to share their pieces on Instagram, and that's where the real story began.

The challenge went viral, and other forged metal designers asked if they could play too.

Once Ferrous Festival offered to exhibit everyone's pieces at its 2019 event in Hereford the challenge had international appeal.

Forged metal designers from around the world started to join in, making pieces with the same constraints as the students and sharing images of their work on Instagram and posting the final pieces to HCA to exhibit.

The work will be shown at Hereford's Ferrous2019 Measured Making exhibition at Gomond Street, and will display an amazing collection of over 200 forged metal pieces from 18 different countries, including Mexico, Norway St Petersburg, Santiago, and Estonia.

Del Done, course leader for the Artist Blacksmithing degree course at Hereford College of Arts, said: "We have blown away with the take up. It shows a real community of practice from forged metal designers around the world.

"It’s been a great vehicle for everyone to express their creativity, and the collection is diverse as we’ve seen tools, sculptures and everyday products."

Georgia Smith, strategy lead for Hereford Business Improvement District (BID), added: “Ferrous2019, which starts on April 5 is a collaboration between Hereford Business Improvement District and Hereford College of Arts, and celebrates the natural world through the craft of blacksmithing.

"There are workshops, films, exhibitions and talks from renowned blacksmiths that celebrate the blacksmithing tradition.

"All are very welcome at the festival, and there are activities the whole family can get involved in, as well as taking the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Hereford.”

The festival acts as a showcase for the remarkable range of home-grown artistic and cultural talent in Herefordshire, and is already establishing a reputation as the place for international metal artists to exhibit their work.