CARBONDALE - The Southern Illinois Metalsmith Society, a Southern Illinois University Carbondale student organization, will bring in two visiting artists for their Metals Conference and Fine Art Auction Sept. 25 and 26.

Elliot Pujol, head professor of metals at Kansas State University, and Daniel Miller of Chapel Hill, N.C. will make the trip to Carbondale. Pujol, who received his bachelor of arts and master of fine arts degrees at SIUC, was named a master smith in 2005 by the National Ornamental Metals Museum in Memphis, Tenn. and was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts and Penland School as one of 50 outstanding craftsmen in the country.

Miller has had work displayed in German blacksmith magazine, "Hepheaustus," and his work has been displayed in the American Craft Museum in New York City.

The conference will begin with registration at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in Pulliam Hall, and continue into Saturday. The Metalsmith Society will team up with the Neighborhood Co-op Grocery for the fine arts silent auction and buffet beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and the live auction beginning at 4:45 p.m. at Turley Park. According to a news release, the items will include belt buckles, sculptures and jewelry and will be affordable to everyone. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the metals program at SIUC.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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Metals Conference and Fine Art Auction:

Admittance to the conference will be $25 for nonmembers, $10 for students and free for SIUC students. Attendance to the auction is free. To receive a registration card, call Southern Illinois Metalsmith Society President Joshua Goss at 970-691-2702 or e-mail sims.siu@gmail.com.