The Art of Teaching

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.