The new Blacksmith
Posted in : Uncategorised on by : Brendan Walsh Comments:
In modern times the title ‘blacksmith’ has a very different understanding. The image of the smith shoeing a horse in an antiquated forge is a picture from the past. The blacksmith still worked with the same basic materials and tools, shaping metal on an anvil and hammering it into shapes under extreme heat. This essential activity has been so for thousand of years and will probably be forever.
The blacksmith has today gained the title of artist and this magical name has unleashed a flood of creativity. More materials are now used to extend the artistic/craft horizon. This modern blacksmith, in many aspects today works in a shadow lands of craft and art and this tension caused by the artisan marrying the artist and with both produce beauty and this is the result
No longer restricted by the political correctness of the past the artist is free to avail of modern material and technology. Today you can see polished bronze with forged steel living together in an abstract piece of art. For the world a new art form has arrived and as for the blacksmith there are no limits.