[Scmusenet] (1 of 2) - An Iron Will to open at the Pickens County Museum, this Saturday, December 2

[Allen Coleman]

An Iron Will

The Work of Griz Hockwalt

 

    The Pickens County Cultural Commission is pleased to announce the
opening of a very special exhibition at the Pickens County Museum of Art
& History. Please join us from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. on December 2, 2006
as we host a reception to open "An Iron Will: The Work of Griz
Hockwalt".  

 

    Now living near Table Rock in Pickens County, "Griz" Hockwalt, began
Blacksmithing in the early 1970's, specializing in Early American
Reproductions. He started Grizzly Forge in 1975. About himself, Hockwalt
says, "Being basically, self taught, I have spent the last 30 years
working with, watching or asking questions of any Blacksmith who would
put up with me. For the past 10 years I have concentrated on using
traditional Blacksmithing techniques to create contemporary works."

 

    Born in 1946 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Hockwalt moved to Indiana in
the mid 1950's. He went to work for General Motors in 1964 and also
served with the United States Special Forces in Viet Nam from 1966-1968.
After retiring from General Motors in 1994 he, with his wife, moved to
Pickens County. In addition to his membership in the Artist Blacksmith
Association of North America, the Philip Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild
of S.C. and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Griz is also
the Village Blacksmith at the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife
Center where he demonstrates 18th and 19th century Blacksmithing on the
third Saturday of each month.

 

    When referring to his work, Griz says, "Say the word 'Blacksmith'
and nine out of ten times the response will be 'Oh, you shoe horses'.
Although the shoeing of horses is an art in itself, even the 18th and
19th century Blacksmith was much more than a maker of horseshoes.  He
was a toolmaker, a cutler, the local hardware store, Mr. Fix-it, and in
many cases the veterinarian or even the dentist." 

 

    He continues, "Imagine creating a piece of art using four of the
Earth's major elements; Fire, Water, Air and Iron.  With nothing but
hand tools, you can take a hard, cold piece of steel and transform it
into a delicate flower or a beautiful piece of furniture. Blacksmithing
is hot, hard, dirty work, but for those of us who enjoy creating with
our hands, the rewards are indescribable."

 

    This exceptional collection of metal work and sculpture created by
the prolific Mr. Hockwalt will remain on display in the museum's new
wing Focus Gallery through February 17, 2007. 

 

    "An Iron Will" is sponsored by SavannahGetaways.net and Little
Bistro, Inc.

 

    The Pickens County Museum of Art & History is funded in part by
Pickens County, members and friends of the museum and a grant from the
South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National
Endowment for the Arts.

 

    Located at the corner of Hwy. 178 at 307 Johnson Street in Pickens
SC, the museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m.
until 5:00 p.m., Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays
from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission is free but donations are
welcomed.

 

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