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43e22614e3137 One Silver Lake High School student and a professional blacksmith were demonstrators in September at the fall festival in Meriden. (Photo provided by Norman Davis)

One Silver Lake High School student and a professional blacksmith were demonstrators in September at the fall festival in Meriden. (Photo provided by Norman Davis)

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Teen enjoys blacksmithing

    Blacksmithing may seem like a lost art in today's society. However, many still practice it. One Silver Lake High School student hopes to carry on this ancient occupation. Freshman JaVon Martin went to Meriden in September, where he and Norman Davis, a professional blacksmith, were demonstrators at the fall festival.  Martin made two napkin holders and a heart, and he hopes to make a chain that holds potholders together.

       Martin has specific things he likes about the craft of blacksmithing, and some things he doesn't like as well.

    "My favorite part of blacksmithing was the fact that you can change a hunk of metal into any shape or form you want to. My least favorite would have to be the heat and sparks," he said.

    Davis explained that Martin has many qualities required to be a blacksmith.

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43e22614e3137 Blacksmithing helps those who practice it achieve a higher artistic ability.(Photo provided by Norman Davis)

Blacksmithing helps those who practice it achieve a higher artistic ability.(Photo provided by Norman Davis)

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     "JaVon is strong and has an artistic approach to blacksmithing. He makes conceptual drawings out of work then forges to his pattern," he said.

    Martin states that he plans on taking what he's learned about blacksmithing into his adult life as a career.

    "I do plan on blacksmithing because it is something I really enjoyed and it is a hobby that I could make money off of," Martin said.

    Davis commented that he himself began blacksmithing in high school and enjoys everything about it.

   "I have been interested in metal work since learning to weld in my high school metals class. After high school, my first job was at Western Foundry. Later, I began to acquire equipment from sales and started forging in the driveway behind our house. I like everything about blacksmithing, and I don't like when it is time to quit," Davis said. 

    Martin explained that he would like to become more creative with this art.

    "I would like to gain an artistic ability, and it could also help me in the future," he commented.

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