The Fall season is upon us. It's official! The nights that
are no longer just cool, but cold, the tinges in the trees that are turning to
actual color (I saw some brilliant red on my way home last night!). The dinners that start to turn from
beautiful grilled summer bounty to soups, stews, and squashes. It is in this beautiful season of
turning inward that kids go back to school, vacations slow down, and we spend
more time inside, creating different things, learning, and growing. It is the same each year at Morrell
Metalsmiths. Although we do occasionally run summertime classes, the cooler
evenings of the fall are perfect for firing up the forges and passing on the
knowledge of blacksmithing to those in our community looking for an outlet for
their creativity.
Our master blacksmiths, Leigh and Justin, teach the classes. I see on their faces that they look
forward to fall and beginning new sessions of classes, meeting new faces and
new challenges as they all learn together the art of blacksmithing anew. It starts with the basics: how to stand, how to swing the hammer,
how to be safe. Then the sparks
fly as the shapes begin to form into something recognizable: a point, a hook, a fork. There is technique and form, and still
an awe of how metal can be shaped and formed in a new way. It is amazing that the students come
in, most barely knowing how to swing a hammer when they first darken the door,
and by the end of just 6 sessions, they have made pieces that are recognizable
and usable! They also have a
working knowledge that will allow them to continue growing and learning on
their own until the next level of instruction. Many set up forges right after their first class and
continue practicing and learning on their own.
The process of learning, especially a craft, is one that
opens so many doors and allows for a unique creative outlet. It is one that is a privilege to watch
happen at Morrell Metalsmiths, and part of what makes life as an artisan so
fascinating and inspiring.
