The show, "Forge & Anvil," is produced in a "hobby magazine" format and introduces viewers to the tools, materials, skills, and personalities involved with modern blacksmithing. More of a "how-about" show than a "how-to," the series consists of 10 half-hour television programs focusing on the scope of ironwork. The show will delve into making furniture, architectural elements, weapons, tools, and decorative arts, as well as horseshoes.
"Forge & Anvil" is designed to inspire hobbyist viewers to practice the techniques introduced in the segments, continuing the tradition of American master blacksmiths.
The original idea for "Forge & Anvil" came from series host Alan Rogers who proposed that the Center produce a show and a book on blacksmiths. One person Rogers "pitched" the idea to was the show's producer/director, George Rodrigues of the Georgia Center's Department of Television Services.
"As I listened to his idea, I tried to be polite and murmured 'very interesting' or something to that effect. My first thought was 'making horseshoes and fitting them to horses could be fun. We can probably stretch that into a full-hour program,'" Rodrigues said. "Little did I realize then that I would spend most of the next year learning about metalcraft and producing the 'Forge & Anvil' television series."
He continued, "Without a doubt, I got a first-class lesson in the evolution of this ancient occupation and how it has become a thriving modern craft. Meeting many masters of the trade and dozens more blacksmith enthusiasts was a delightful extra treat."
The viewer will experience the sounds and images of the working blacksmith shop, complete with glowing hot steel and hammers pounding elastic metal into an array of shapes and designs.
To illustrate how the artform is not limited to the Southeast, Rogers discusses the trade with master blacksmiths from across the country. "Forge & Anvil" transports its viewers to Atlanta, Ga.; Santa Fe, N.Mex.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Carbondale, Ill. Each blacksmith shares individual experiences in the world of blacksmithing.
The show will also be available to public television stations across the country this fall.
For more information about the TV series "Forge & Anvil," the companion book for the series, and expanded videotapes of the projects made in the series, contact Nancy Flanagan, Department of Marketing Services, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-3603, 1-800-359-4040, e-mail: flanagann@gactr.uga.edu
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