The Weathervane

Every November, the Folk School hosts our Forge After Dark event. Blacksmiths from across the region come to the Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop and forge through the night, making items for purchase the following day at our annual in–person auction. Event attendees could grab their safety glasses, walk through the studio, and see our twelve coal forges come to life. This event is one of many opportunities’ visitors have each year to spend time in our studios outside of taking a weeklong or weekend class. 

Our in-person auction featured over 60 handmade items designed by our instructors, students, and staff. One of those items was a garden wind vane made by Choo Choo Forge members Jack Wheeler, Herb Gravitt, Richard Yeller, Brian Horseman, Bill Anderson, Caige Pirtle, Chris O’Brien, Doug Mitchell, Jimmy Smith, and Jeff Jarrett. At 6 feet tall, the wind vane hosts copper and brass nature-inspired ornaments, including steel mice, a brass rooster, a copper butterfly, ladybugs, and copper roses. Choo Choo Forge, based out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a group dedicated to preserving the art of blacksmithing and encouraging artistic endeavors, and has a long-standing tradition of creating something special for each year’s auction. 

Detail shots of each element of the Weathervane

Choo Choo Forge wanted to do something different this year than in years past, which was to keep the wind vane they created on campus, with any bids placed at auction benefiting the Folk School. Because of them, we raised $9,000 to keep the garden wind vane on campus. We’re still deciding where its permanent home will be, but we hope when you pass it on campus, you take a second to admire the detail of their work and how they’ve made their mark on us by showing up and giving back. 

We raised a total of $29,500 at our in-person auction, thanks to our room of excited bidders who came together to support our mission. Our community of artists is the foundation for making events like this happen. From donating a piece to volunteering at information booths, working in the forge all night, and being auction presenters, they are the glue that holds our events together.