[TheForge] Blacksmithing and ABANA

[Andy Vida]

> MARK GARDNER wrote:

>         "I would be willing to wager Greg Biddle that without the
> study of history, a sensitivity to the material and insight into the
> principles of design, the work will be ugly, and unless cherished by
> somebody's mother, recycled in short order.  The Anvil's Ring cuts
> down on the trash."  James A Wallace, Director National Ornamental
> Metals Museum, AR Winter 95-96.

	What in hell kind of crap is this?  Is this a joke?  If it
	is, it is in poor taste, and if not then Mr. Wallace's
	mom needs to take him over her knee and spank the liver out
	of him.  What a low and disgustingly boorish thing to say 
	to someone asking for help.

>    After looking all of this up, and reading Greg Biddle's letter in
> an old, pre-Jim McCarty Anvil's Ring, with the responses he received
> from an ABANA Editor, an ABANA Board member and the "Director of the
> National Ornamental Metals Museum", I decided to try to contact Greg.
> In March, 2004, I spoke with him.  While Greg still has his blacksmith
> shop, it is unused.  At the time he wrote to the Anvil's Ring, Greg
> was getting a good start in blacksmithing.  He had entered his work in
> competitions and won notice.  He was also the volunteer newsletter
> editor for the new Kentucky Chapter of ABANA.  However, he said that
> the overwhelmingly negative responses to his letter to the Anvil's
> Ring had hurt him deeply and destroyed his desire to continue
> blacksmithing.

	Unfortunately, not everyone is sufficiently thick-skinned to
	withstand such shabby treatment.  I find it truly amazing
	how fond some people are of turning beautiful things into
	ugly, hurtful, and poisonous ones.  I recommend they all
	drop blacksmithing and take up S&M practices.