[TheForge] Speaking of age...

[Jerry Frost]

In Alaska there just aren't many smithing meets. There 
are usually demonstrator(s) at the state fair and maybe 
the Ren Fair but that's about it.

Recently though a number of us have been trying to get 
an Alaskan Association going. . . Again. We've had two 
organizational meetings so far and the age spread is 
about equal above and below about 40. There have only 
been a couple teens present and only a couple above 65.

At demos there is a LOT of casual interest from 
youngsters, say, 13-18. Unfortunately not one has ever 
followed through. I have had the best results from kids 
searching me down through the internet. Usually they 
land on Anvilfire or another like forum and start 
bombarding them with questions. As usual someone 
suggests hooking up with a local ABANA affiliate or 
other club. Then when finding out Alaska has none they 
get refered to me. Some are close enough we can get 
together, some aren't.

The kids who've hunted me down have done quite well, 
one and all.

Anyway. Yes, there are young people filling the ranks 
for the next generation. Even here.

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/

From: "Andrew Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>


>I was wondering (has this come up before?), how many 
>youngin's are on theforge?  How's about we define that 
>as anyone under 30?  I ask because I feel as if I'm 
>one of the younger people here and that got me to 
>wondering about whether there is a new generation to 
>pick up where and when we leave off?  I know of only a 
>few young new-ish smiths like Nigel Tudor (met him at 
>Touchstone several years ago.  Very talented young 
>guy).  Do things look promising for the coming 
>generation or are we heading down another dead end, a 
>la 1970?
>
> Is anyone watching this?  Does ABANA hold this as an 
> issue?  If not, should they?
>
> -Andy
>