Entry No. 24 — the Minneapolis file — filed under: blacksmithing
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC)
This non-profit community art center focuses on art forms produced using heat, spark, or flame. They offer hands-on classes in blacksmithing, neon bending, metal casting, and sculptural welding.
The story
Most community art centers hand you clay or watercolor paper. CAFAC hands you an oxy-acetylene torch and a pair of heavy safety goggles. Located at 3749 Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis, this non-profit shop operates under a single, unapologetic mandate: if it doesn't require heat, spark, or open flame, it doesn't belong on the floor.
The center runs hands-on workshops across a tight lineup of high-temperature disciplines—blacksmithing, sculptural welding, metal casting, and neon glass bending. Instead of functioning as a quiet gallery space, the facility operates as a heavy working shop where you learn to manipulate rigid iron, steel, and glass tubing over screaming gas burners and glowing forges.
You aren't watching a craftsman from behind a safety barrier; you are holding the tongs, striking red-hot metal over an anvil, or shaping tabletop steel sculptures with gas torches. From forging iron spoons to learning the precision required to seal gas-filled neon tubes, the work here is raw, loud, and thoroughly practical.
What it's like
The shop floor is loud, industrial, and smells like warm metal and gas lines. You will be working directly with intense heat and sparks, so synthetic clothing is a strict liability—dress in natural fibers like heavy cotton or denim, wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, and prepare to sweat. Classes require advance registration, so lock in your spot online long before pulling up to the curb.
The move: Sign up for their 'Creating Curves with Oxy-Acetylene and Blacksmithing Techniques' workshop, where you and your partner will use an oxy-acetylene torch and a blacksmithing forge to bend and wrap hot metal into a custom tabletop sculpture.
- 📍 South Minneapolis
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts (Foci MCGA) — Double down on high-temperature craft by pairing metalwork at CAFAC with hot-shop glass blowing two miles away.
- Somali Museum of Minnesota — Head a mile north to Midtown to trade heavy metal shop noise for a quiet look at traditional nomadic artifacts and hand-woven craft.
- Little Tijuana — Decompress after hours at the forge with playful cocktails and late-night eats under the neon glow on Eat Street.
Good to know
Do I need prior welding or blacksmithing experience to sign up?
No, CAFAC offers introductory, hands-on workshops tailored specifically for complete beginners alongside advanced studio residencies.
What specific art forms does CAFAC specialize in?
The center focuses exclusively on 'fire arts,' including blacksmithing, metal casting, sculptural welding, and neon tube bending.
How should I dress for a workshop at the center?
Wear natural fiber clothing (such as 100% cotton or denim) and closed-toe leather shoes or boots. Synthetic fabrics can melt when exposed to stray sparks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · womenspress.com
last checked: 2026-07-21