2009 Traditional Arts Apprenticeships
Blacksmithing

• Lucian Avery, Bradford, master artist – $2,327
• Nathan Colpitts, Monroe, apprentice – $1,000

Lucian will be starting Nathan off with the skills needed to make a basic set of blacksmithing tools, including tongs, punches, and hammers. The skills involved in this work include forging and tempering. They will then move on to a variety of functional projects.

Lucian Avery at his forge
Photo courtesy of Lucian Avery

"Blacksmithing is one of the foundation trades on which our civilization was assembled. ... I think the skills themselves should be preserved in order to help us feel connected to and learn from the past, to enrich our lives in the present and as part of a shared cultural resource to draw on in the future." -- Lucian Avery, 2008

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Last updated: October 15, 2008