|
Working on an anvil with hot iron, Aislinn Lewis
Behind the heat of the forge in Heathsville, Aislinn Lewis turns her ideas into creations with copper and iron.
A list of products to make hangs among copper wire and tools at Aislinn Lewis' workspace. She will attend college in the fall to hone her blacksmithing skills. |
WHEN MOST conjure up the image of a village blacksmith, he's a swarthy, stocky sort with arms the size of artillery shells and a face tinged from charcoal and wood smoke.
Westmoreland County's Aislinn Lewis, who spends three days a week pounding metal on a historic forge at Heathsville in the Northern Neck, doesn't exactly fit that bill.
The freckle-faced, strawberry blond 20-year-old is a tall, slender artisan.
But don't be fooled by the appearance of this young woman, introduced to smithing at George Washington's Birthplace, just a short hop from the small farmlet on the outskirts of Stratford Harbour she calls home.
A year of pounding metal stock as a member of the Heathsville Forge Blacksmith Guild--part of the Rice's Hotel/Hughlett's Tavern complex behind the Northumberland County Courthouse--has built up the muscles in Lewis' arms, shoulders and wrists.
She said the healthy dose of fatigue that comes from working at the forge is one
"That and the feeling of accomplishment you get at the end of the day, seeing what you've made," said Lewis, who has turned out
The forge is open to the public Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
These days, the 60 or so members of the guild--about 15 are active--are excited about more than just Lewis' latest creation.
They're abuzz about the fact that one of their own is going off to study the craft at the American College of the Building Arts, a four-year college in Charleston, S.C.
There, students can study old-master skills from ornamental ironwork to plastering and architectural stone.
"We tease her a lot, but all of us are proud of what she's learned and where she's headed," said Buzz Burhenn, a regular at the forge.
Lewis credits her blacksmithing talents to artistic inclination, an interest in history and a love of the outdoors and physical pursuits. But she said there was not one magical moment that made her decide to be
Roger Amidon, sweat dripping around the edges of his railroad cap as he pounded a steel button-cutter into shape on the forge, said there's a range of talent and knowledge among those in the guild.
Lewis said members have shared that knowledge. As she started each new project--from early items like coat hooks to a recent elaborate trellis stand that took 30 hours to make--she'd seek suggestions and help.
The young blacksmith, enrolled in some academic classes now at Rappahannock Community College in Warsaw, said the opportunity at the school in Charleston helped steer her to blacksmithing as a career.
She learned of the school from a friend and visited with her parents, Todd and Langley.
The school and others like it are cropping up to train craftspeople needed to provide unique services on historic renovations and other projects that require old-world skills.
Keenly interested in history as well, Lewis said she hopes to someday combine teaching about blacksmithing with the regular forging of pieces artistic and practical, if that's possible.
Burhenn said the other guild members will miss her, but hope she'll return at some point to share what she's learned.
"It's like she's a daughter to all of us. We'll miss her, but we're glad she's moving on to the next step in her career."
rhhtfoundation.orgRob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com
