Black Saturday in Strathewen, Victoria, Australia | Community

Black Saturday

Locality: Strathewen, Victoria, Australia

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• Commercial and industrial
• Metal fabricator
• Sculpture garden

24.01.2022 As most of us are home this ANZAC Day, I thought I'd share a project I was very lucky to work on with some of the key blacksmiths and welders of the Blacksmiths' Tree. We teamed up with chainsaw carvers Hikaru Kodama and Leigh Conkie to create a series of wood and steel war memorial sculptures for a public park. Interestingly, this project starts with a fire; this time a ceremonial fire to burn the original sculptures which had deteriorated, in order to make way for the new s...culptures. With thanks to filmmaker Mike Wilkins, this full feature documentary is available to watch online this weekend only, until midnight Monday 29 April. Like the Blacksmiths' Tree, this became a profound and beautiful journey that resulted in the creation of a very special place. I hope you enjoy it. See more

21.01.2022 Spot of humour on a grey winter's day. Thanks Shane for this one. :)

21.01.2022 In 2010 Quentin Fogarty, whom I met when he was Public Affairs Manager for the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, filmed the blacksmiths forging branches and leaves for the Blacksmiths' Tree. Although back then we could only guess at the scale of the project, Quentin, a master of narrative put together one of the most beautiful vignettes describing the origin of the Blacksmiths' Tree and why it is so important. I was with a small group of people who had lost many frie...nds in the fires when we first saw this footage in Cottles Bridge, just out of Strathewen. It doesn't matter how many times I see it, it still makes me cry as much as I did on that first night. Never meant for public viewing, this was a promo for a documentary Quentin wanted to make for television. Although we were not successful in getting this documentary made, Quentin shared his footage with Andrew Garton many years later for inclusion in Andrew's documentary Forged From Fire. (Thank you to David Rose, the cameraman behind this remarkable footage.) And a safe journey to Quentin, wherever you are going. You will always be remembered with gratitude, admiration and love by everyone at the Blacksmiths' Tree. A little note before you view this; for friends and family of Quentin, Quentin is narrating and you will recognise his beautiful voice; for those who have seen the devastation of the 2009 fires, this is a gentle and thoughtfully made piece, but does have images of the burnt landscape and the Poetry Tree. Watch with someone you love.

20.01.2022 The exquisite Iron Roses in Norway, photographed by our blacksmith friend Tobbe Malm. Despite the tragedy behind its creation, it stands as a little reminder of love and beauty in the world.

20.01.2022 Elizaveta Polikashina and her steel cats forged from angle iron. She and her boyfriend Artem Marshak, also a blacksmith, live in a small town outside Moscow. Thanks to Jerry Coe and the California Blacksmith Association for sharing her work.

17.01.2022 With great sadness we acknowledge the sudden passing of a great man and friend, Quentin Fogarty who suffered a fatal heart attack on Saturday. I will miss his wisdom, his sardonic wit and the familiarity of his deep melodious voice. I will always remember his gentleness and great empathy towards those who suffered terrible loss in the 2009 fires. For those who testified at the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, you may have met Quentin. He was the driver behind the B...lack Saturday Gallery, a space just outside the hearing room dedicated to showcasing art from the fire affected communities. If you saw the beautiful paintings and prints by regional artists, and drawings from Strathewen Primary School Students at the Royal Commission, that was Quentin's doing. I first met Quentin when the gallery exhibited a collection of leaves from the Blacksmiths' Tree back in 2010. (With gratitude to Cliff Overton from the CFA who set that meeting up. xx) From that day, Quentin was a passionate supporter of the Blacksmiths' Tree, filming the blacksmiths at work and working behind the scenes as an event manager and media liaison for our launch event in Whittlesea. In 2019 Quentin took staff from the Royal Commission through some of the bushfire affected townships and to the Blacksmiths' Tree. Thank you Quentin for your unwavering friendship, brilliance and love throughout all the challenges and difficult times. Rest in peace my friend.

12.01.2022 How NOT to run a blacksmith's forge, (although the anchor forging is pretty nifty.) Thanks to Jan Kovar, one of our blacksmithing friends from Germany for sharing this classic Popeye cartoon. x

11.01.2022 I keep staring at this and thinking I should have bought it. These are all my favourite deep sea, turquoise and verdigris colours all together. This makes me so happy. I can't even remember how big it was. I know it was a little brooch, but in my head it is as big as a cauliflower and I can carry it like a bouquet of flowers. It's by Jill Herman from Clifton Creek She writes about the material and process:... "The material used is the Japanese alloy, Shibuichi. This is made up of 75% copper and 25% silver. These pieces are constructed by fusing formed elements together, and the colours that result are a natural reaction between heat and the thick oxide layer that develops on the surface. No flux, solder, pickle or any chemicals are used in the making of these pieces." See more

07.01.2022 So, a few hours before we even knew the COVID-19 lockdown was a thing, I visited (the former) Rathdowne Galleries with Scotia from the Creative Recovery Network to see the Beyond Charred exhibition; work from Gippsland artists who lived through the 2019-2020 bushfires. So here's a little virtual gallery tour for everyone at home. I hope you're as delighted as I am at this collection of artwork. xxx Exhibiting Artists:... Marcus Foley, Nungurner - jewellery Jill Hermans, Clifton Creek - jewellery Chris Guthleben, Paynesville - ceramics Daniel Jenkins, Metung - sculpture Rachel Mounsey, Mallacoota - photography Lee Nickless, Nyerimilang - painting Marlene Rees, Lake Tyers Beach - textiles Kate Shone, Swan Reach - sculpture Dore Stockhausen, Nungurner - painting Gary Yelen, Lake Tyers Beach - painting with thanks to Philippa Kelly for the beautiful exhibition space.

04.01.2022 Beyond Charred is an exhibition of art works by Artists from East Gippsland, all of whom have, to varying degrees, been affected by this summers fires throughout their region. All welcome. The Opening Reception will take place at the former Rathdowne Galleries, 310 Rathdowne street, Carlton from 5:00 Tuesday 17th March. It will be open every following day 10 - 5 until Monday 30th March.

02.01.2022 Love from the forge of one of our Italian friends. non mollare: do not give up tieni duro: hold on