Traditional forging techniques will be used in an exhibit to honor the Elk Valley’s mining past and present
Fernie Forge blacksmiths David and Sandra Barrett are working on a number of vignettes to be included in the Miner’s Walk, which is currently being constructed on the grounds of Fernie’s City Hall, the original headquarters of the valley’s coal company.
The walk, which is due to be completed this year, will feature information panels that tell the story of significant players in coal mining in the area and will describe the geology and natural and human history of the area’s coal mines.
Fernie Forge is producing wrought-steel sculptures of a horseshoe, ants, snails, bull trout and spiders and copper pieces showing the life cycle of the butterfly that will be used to decorate pieces of mining machinery in the walk.
They will each be 12 to 15 inches long and are likely to be used low on the structure, so that children can search for them.
Although the modern blacksmiths can use modern welding and plasma cutting technology, they also use a traditional coke forge and anvil to shape hot metal, just as blacksmiths would have done in the Elk Valley’s early years.
“The main sculpture of a miner’s head is being created by an internationally-known artist, Jeff de Boer,” explained Sandra. “So it is a real honour for us to be asked to take part, and to have our work displayed in such an important project.”
David and Sandra are currently working on the spider sculptures, which involves cutting and shaping the head, body and all eight legs separately before putting them together.
From The Free Press