L. Brent Kington, professor emeritus at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, is widely regarded as the father of blacksmithing as an art form. The Illinois State Museum is hosting a retrospective of the 76year-old artist, and it is well worth a visit.

When Kington and his wife, Diana, moved to Carbondale in 1961 to head the metalsmithing department at Southern Illinois University, he was making whimsical creatures cast in silver. In grad school at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, Kington had created his “little bird form,” and these cartoonish figures on threewheeled vehicles descended from that.

The artist continued making these curious silver creatures, which became wonderful toys for his young son and daughter. His Pull Toys from the same period may remind visitors of Preston Jackson sculptures.

The artist had long been a cartoonist, and the exhibit includes three humorous watercolor cartoons entitled “A Short Autobiography Concerning People, Dogs & Experiences That Formed My Life.” Do take a look at them.

Kington the metalsmith became interested in blacksmithing after seeing the armor department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and later sought out local blacksmiths in the Carbondale area to teach him the craft. After working with the Deal brothers from Murphysboro, he decided to concentrate on blacksmithing, working in iron and steel. One of the most striking pieces from this early period is an abstract winged piece in