Cutting the driving hook.
Talking sustainability at Peters Valley School of Craft… Number one on the “Top Ten Skills to Hone for a Post-Oil Future,” by Ana Maria Spagna in Orion magazine’s May/June 2013 issue is “Blacksmithing.”
We got the chance to observe some skilled smiths in action at the Peters Valley School of Craft’s Open House on May 5 in Layton, New Jersey. Years ago, Krista enjoyed a week-long class in blacksmithing at Peters Valley. On Sunday, under Dave’s tutelage, she refreshed her skills by crafting a driving hook.
Finishing off the project.
The sensory experience of the shop was alive with the ping of hammering, the rush of the blower under the coals and the hiss and steam that escapes when the metal is plunged into a cooling bath.
Peters Valley, located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, is one of the amazing artistic resources within an hour drive of the Upper Delaware region. Classes are offered in various arts, such as fiber, ceramics, wood and more. Self-guided tours of the studios are welcome between 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from May 18-September 15.
[Photos © Heron’s Eye Communications.]
