Invitation to a Doris Day

This is an invitation to come and witness a Doris Day as the members of the group, Blacksmith Doris, smith within The Barn hosted by the Australian Blacksmiths Association (Victoria) on the 5 of September 2015 between 10.30 am and 2.30 pm within Cooper's Settlement at Bundoora Park.   To enter the Cooper's Settlement you will need to go through the Visitors Centre. To enter the barn to observe the women’s only blacksmithing group onlookers will need to come ready with clothing of natural fibre and sensible shoes (those wearing open toed shoes or acrylic clothing will be refused entry), while earplugs and goggles will be provided.  Before entering you will be asked to sign the visitors book. 

From within the workshop those who come will observe the members of Blacksmith Doris as they build the fire, heat steel and transform it with hammers large and small.  They will be able to stand amongst the noise, heat and dirt of the workshop on a typical 1st Saturday of the month.  Who knows, some may like it so much that they feel compelled to try it, signing up as a member, of course.

What is Blacksmith Doris?

Blacksmith Doris is a group of women exploring blacksmithing in a friendly, sharing environment.  Through skill sharing they teach and learn the craft of traditional blacksmithing while providing a space for individuality.  As a group they acknowledge  historical assumptions of the craft without being burdened by it. 

The women who make up Blacksmith Doris are from various backgrounds, and their reasons for attending are as diverse.  During the weekday you will find them all throughout the community doing what they do to earn a living.  The list includes: forklift drivers, high school teachers, call centre operators, dermatologists, TAFE teachers, engineers, mothers, students and artists. A few women come to be the best blacksmith that they can be, while others are there to socialise, draw, play with clay or scrounge in the scrap box.  Some Doris’ hit and burn metal until it falls apart and again others measure their work against drawings for exactness.  Collectively, though, we are Blacksmith Doris.

Why are we doing this?

‘The artists among the Doris’ often pursue individual, and contemporary outcomes with the medium, in more of a research capacity, quietly (or not) demanding a blacksmithing revival of an essential craft base, by fanning the fire of enquiry’.  1

Through this invitation To Doris We Go, we intend expanding the understanding of traditional contemporary object based practice through an old, but renewed, craft.   While those who come will see blacksmiths smithing, there will be those who respond to the day through various other mediums and methods.  

There will be additional performances to engage with as red hot steel objects will be dropped into quenching baths of water or oil, and, as an added bonus, an ‘unmaking’ of a wrought iron object executed by Nick Hackett, co-founder of Blacksmith Doris (retired) and President of the Australian Blacksmiths Association (Victoria).   What will be seen will reinforce the perspective that outcome is not always necessary to a practice, but being in the creative moment is enough.

 1. Dianne Beevers