[TheForge] Reenactors

[Vincent Nakovics]

Barry Thanks for the words of wisdom, but I have bowed out of most activities as far as regular education goes. 

     Regarding Blacksmithing and other Artistic avenues, I help when and where I can. Maybe I am looking at Blacksmithing wrong, but I was not a metal worker and in truth it was my own personal desire to excell at building Cannon Carriages that brought me to Blacksmithing. Really the work there is in Wheelwrighting. I tend to talk to younger folks interested in Blacksmithing not as a way to make a living, but as a way of artistic expression. This allows the younger ones of the grouping to use and learn all the computer stuff they can and still have a place for other artistic outlets, such as Blacksmithing or welding etc. If they become drawn to the blacksmithing as a passion all the better, but having enthusiasts in the computer field will undoubtly be a good thing. I have a lot of problems using CADs even though you can work out a lot of problems on it before you begin a project. Not that I have much call for it, but I did have to design a kayak, I did use it in later years to draw several structures and repair details of historic buildings. Regardless my view has always been to get people with different backgrounds interested as they bring ideas to the table.  Plus there is always the satisfied feeling of having done something. In regards to reenacting in general the purpose would be to keep history alive in all its detailed delights.

      Some one mentioned swearing being a part of the trade. This is not necessarily so. I worked in a Sheet Metal shop as a youngster and never heard the guys swear routinely. I myself in truth grew up with a rather rough mouth - It can be controlled as I never swear at demonstrations nor around children in particular. Amongst my friends it is a different story, with their wives present, I might slip up once in a while, but it is not the norm. In the Navy I did a lot of yelling for dramatization, but when I was talking to my youngsters alone I kept that to a minimum. Swearing as a vernacular shows that we have lost a certain panache and command of our communication skills. One can be a Donkeys rump or one can be an @#$$%@#. Which presents a better you. Just saying.

     One quick story about Blacksmithing. I used to have kids come work for a week or two with me in the shop as part of their internship. I believe they will always remember the three days of Blacksmithing as they were able to make a few things that they could give to their Mom, Dad, girlfriend that they made.  It wasn't really a blacksmith class as I had real work to be done at the same time, but I did provide them the glimpse and an appreciation of what a Blacksmith did. They were also surprised at what I got paid for my accrued knowledge of Historic Preservation and Restoration. I used to point out I was lucky that my job was unique and that I made a nice living doing something I truly enjoyed. They got it - I told them to keep it in mind and maybe later on you can come back to it and do it as a hobby if nothing else. The girls really got excited, but felt it was to hard for them, but said they would alway remember their time in the Blacksmith shop. The seed was planted with about 7 interns in 2 years. Now we have to wait and see maybe one will take. All of them are going into other fields, Interpretation, Police, Administration, Education, etc. not a metalworker one. We can only put it out there and hope that someone grabs a hold of the line.  
See ya at the Forge!!
Albanian Style!

Vince Nakovics