Museum hosts blacksmith event

LAS CRUCES -- The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum and the Southwest Artist Blacksmiths Association are teaming up to bring a new and exciting event to Las Cruces.

The first Regional Blacksmiths Conference is schedules for Feb. 17-18 at the Museum. The first day of the event is for blacksmiths and features three training sessions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Santa Fe's Ward Brinegar, a professional smith for 30 years, will demonstrate elementary forging, traditional joinery, forge welding and special techniques he developed to forge Southwestern landscapes. He also will present a slideshow of his work and discuss business operation and survival as a self-employed blacksmith.

Day 2 of the event will be a special treat for the public. From noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, many of the top blacksmiths in the Southwest will be doing demonstrations for museum visitors and have their creations on display for sale.

The museum has its own blacksmith shop with daily demonstrations and the venue is one of the most popular among visitors. For more information, please call 522-4100.