What We can Learn from the Blacksmith Shop
History + Endeavor + Creativity + Heat + Sweat = Smith work and, well, just about anything worth doing.
Sometimes intersections are places of conflict and collisions. We should be wise enough to expect there to be conflict occasionally especially with everything speeding along so fast. But even collisions can become wonderful inventions if we add some creativity and honest insight to the mix. Take the heat and a hammer under the arm ad eye of the blacksmith for instance. A whole lot of banging and clanging, sweating and sighing take place until something great emerges.
The craftsman needs to also know metallurgy, physics, and engineering. I've done a small amount of metal smithing as well as casting using various metals and methods, though most people may know me for welding steel sculpture. It all takes a lot for energy, know how, and perseverance. I often think of it as analogous to any kind of endeavor where it take multiple tries to get something right. While metal work is both art and science, at times it can feel like just a lot of pounding away until you see the results your are looking for.. Does that sound familiar?
So, these guys are not just showing us something about the past. They’re teaching us how to do anything and everything. Anyway, enjoy these photos from the Frisco Heritage Museum where we are fortunate to have a genuine blacksmith shop with real smithing going on.
roger
Frisco Heritage Museum