[TheForge] Craft work (was Disgusting Ironwork)

[Ries Niemi]

I am not any kind of abana official-
but I can think of a few things abana does to educate-
they publish a couple of magazines, which make their way into various 
libraries and schools
they put on their biannual conference, which always gets local 
publicity in whatever town it is in
they help connect the various groups and individuals across the 
country, who otherwise would be isolated and alone. This greater common 
awareness helps us all feel better about the craft- there is a certain 
glee to be found at an abana conference, with 1000 or so smiths in one 
place- the critical mass is surprising.

now should they do more to educate the general public- well, probably, 
although it costs money and takes time, and I am not sure where either 
would come from- contrary to what some people may think, it is my 
impression that there isnt a lot of highly paid pencil pushers sitting 
around in some abana headquarters somewhere.

There are quite a few people who are helping to educate the general 
public- every one of us who demonstrates at a public event- and there 
are lots, across the country.
Every one of us who enters our work in a craft show, or an art show.
Every one of us who does permanent public work, be it sculpture, 
ornamental iron, or furniture.
The many welding instructors at community colleges across the country 
who have become interested in forging, and either talk about it to 
their students, or actually teach it- Like in North Carolina, Austin 
Texas, here in Washington State, and across the country at other 
schools I dont know of.
Every one of us who takes the time to get our work into magazines, or 
sends photos to people like Dona Meilach who writes books about the 
crafts.
Every one of us, (and there are a surprising amount) who writes books 
themselves about smithing.
Every one of us who teaches the occasional interested kid, even if it 
is just for an hour, how to bang on metal.

So there are quite a few of the estimated 10,000 smiths in America that 
are daily trying to make the world more aware of quality blacksmithing 
and handcrafted work. Seems like at least once a week I tell somebody 
how blacksmithing  isnt dead after all.

No question, more could be done.

ries