[Scmusenet] "Blacksmithing Then & Now" at the Pickens County Museum - Thursday January 18 at 6:00 pm

[Allen Coleman]

Learn about blacksmithing
at Pickens County Museum's Thursday Forum

     Learn all about the traditional art of blacksmithing Thursday,
January 18, starting at 6 p.m., when the Pickens County Museum of Art &
History hosts its monthly Thursday Forum in the LaVonne Nalley Piper
Auditorium.

     "Griz" Hockwalt, whose work currently is on display in the museum's
"An Iron Will" exhibition, will present a look at the historical aspects
of the blacksmith in local communities.  He will cover the origin,
process, tools and community contribution of the blacksmith and also
will discuss the places a blacksmith fits into the modern world.

      "Griz" began blacksmithing in the early 1970', and started Grizzly
Forge in 1975.  He has lived in Pickens County, near Table Rock, since
1994.  He is a member of 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.

     "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, " he
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." 
 
     This program is part of the Pickens County Museum's continuing
effort to provide a variety of interesting and educational programming
for the community and is funded in part by donations from Carroll M.
Wilson and Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.  The museum is located
at 307 Johnson Street in Pickens, at the intersection of Johnson Street
and Highway 178. 

    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.

     For additional information about the museum and its programs call
(864) 898-5963.

    


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