National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Announce Blacksmithing Workshop
Enrollment space limited for three-day “Introduction to Blacksmithing.”
OKLAHOMA CITY — The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, in conjunction with the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA), presents a three-day “Introduction to Blacksmithing” workshop February 20 – 22, 2019, in Christoval, Texas. Suitable for beginner to expert blacksmiths, the workshop is open to the public; however, enrollment space is limited.
The “Introduction to Blacksmithing” workshop will introduce participants to the tools used in blacksmithing and the function of each. Utilizing basic blacksmithing principles, students will then create simple tools, including chisels and punches, that are used in bit and spur making. The workshop will culminate with participants constructing a set of tongs. Blacksmithing principles relative to the bit and spur making process will be discussed, further enhancing participants’ skill sets.
“The National Cowboy Museum is always proud to partner with the TCAA in its efforts to promote and preserve the traditional cowboy arts, which are such an integral part of the American West,” said Museum President & CEO Natalie Shirley. “Workshops such as this ensure that the knowledge, skill and craftsmanship practiced by our Western forebears is not lost for this or future generations.”
“Introduction to Blacksmithing” is instructed by Sam Gooding, CJF, an accomplished toolmaker who has led various clinics and provided advanced training throughout the country. The workshop will be held in Christoval, Texas, at Capron Bits and Spurs, which is owned by TCAA President Wilson Capron, himself a widely renowned bit and spur maker.
Cost for the three-day workshop is $680 ($600 for National Cowboy Museum members), with lunch available for an additional $15 per day. Instruction is from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily. For more information, email Director of Education Gretchen Jeane at gjeane@nationalcowboymuseum.org.