Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

February 22, 2007 issue

Back in Black (Smithing, that is…)

ASU’s Craft Enrichment Program Heats up with Blacksmithing Class

Story by David Brewer

Before the United States became fully ensconced in the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, the art of blacksmithing as practiced by the "village smithy" was a staple of every town. Unfortunately, the once indispensable skill now exists mostly in theme parks, restoration villages, craft fairs and craft shops.
For more than eight years, ASU’s craft enrichment program has allowed both students and locals a chance to get their hands dirty, learning various crafts and skills including stained glass, pottery, photography, weaving, wood carving and architecture. And this semester, the Craft Enrichment Program has welcomed the return of blacksmithing.

Though offered previously through the program, blacksmithing has been absent from course list during the last few years until the recent arrival of new instructor Garner Britt, a skilled artisan who came with his wife to teach at ASU.

“It was just something that sounded kind of interesting,” said Britt. “Most academic departments are just gobbling up these craft enrichment programs.”
Getting his initial blacksmithing experience in a program similar to the one he now instructs, Brit received a BFA in sculpture from the University of Washington with a focus on casting, welding and metalwork. He received his MFA in sculpture from Arizona State University, focusing on fine metalworking and woodworking.
Britt previously taught at Arizona State University, Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colo. and the University of Oregon, where he also served as the assistant coordinator of the school’s Craft Center. Britt also teaches an Intro to Welding and Metal Fabrication and two academic metalworking classes.

During the eight-week program, Britt will spend the first half demonstrating the basic techniques of blacksmithing, letting the participants get several hours of practice under their belts. The students will then be turned loose by Britt to work on an extended project of their choice during the last four weeks of the program.
“Recreational students are 100 percent here because they want to be,” said Britt, noting the focus displayed by the class members. “And they really love beating on the metal.”

The current crop of students, 10 males and one female, watch with rapt attention as the black-handed Britt removes a piece of glowing steel from the blazing forge before placing it in a vise. As Britt turns the glowing rod in the sure grip of the vise, the once-straight piece of steel twists under the pressure. Britt then reverses directions, causing the rod to flower into a cage-like pattern.
Blacksmithing essentially began with the Iron Age, when primitive man first began making tools from iron. Although many technological advancements have been made in the area of blacksmithing, including the modern forge and more specialized and sometimes motorized tools, the process used to shape metal by hand has changed remarkably little since prehistoric times.

In the United States, modern blacksmiths are no longer regarded as integral parts of their communities as they were for centuries. Instead, the art has veered from the creation of necessary items to the realm of artistic interpretation. In Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and South America, however, large numbers of artisans continue to do traditional work.

As has been the case for thousands of years, the essence of the skill still lies in the blacksmith’s ability to manipulate hot metal into a useful or decorative object in as few firings as possible. The hammer, anvil and a portion of steel continue to provide thousands of possibilities.

“I think they feel really empowered, working with what seems like unbendable material,” said Britt. “You’re giving the basic skill set and you can see the light go on in their heads.”

According to Britt, the forge maintains a temperature of between 2,000 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. The material most commonly used by modern blacksmiths is mild steel. Though not as strong as many other grades, mild steel contains .05 to 0.26 percent carbon and is easy to shape, making it ideal for blacksmithing.
Once Britt finishes his round of instruction, the students begin putting their steel rods into the hellishly hot forge, waiting impatiently for the material to attain its necessary orange glow.

After their rods are ready, the students carefully extract them from the forge and begin what seems like a slow-motion ballet. With glowing steel in hand, the 11 participants begin gliding around each other, finding open anvils on which to pound away. Eventually, the room buzzes with a cacophony of rhythmic noise as the rods take on a variety of shapes.

According to Britt, most furniture and other wrought iron objects that have the appearance of having been made by hand are actually manufactured cold by machines that twist them with brute force.

Fortunately, the 11 people currently under Britt’s tutelage will leave the Introduction to Blacksmithing program with the knowledge of how to shape steel with their hands, carrying on the skills of our earliest ancestors.
For more info about ASU’s blacksmithing class, click to www.craftenrichment.com.

ASU’s Craft Enrichment Program Still Growing

For the last eight and a half years, Eric Reichard has directed ASU’s Michael R. Patricelli Craft Enrichment Program. Since the program’s humble beginnings when 20 participants took the initial ceramics and jewelry-making classes, the program has blossomed to include 18 classes attended by more than 160 students.

Classes are offered during the fall, spring and summer sessions. In addition to blacksmithing, offerings in the Craft Enrichment Program include weaving, woodworking, stained glass, jewelry, photography, ceramics, pottery, copper, quilting, basket making and classes for children.

Those wishing to register for classes can do so online at www.craftenrichment.com or by calling Reichard at 828-262-6360.