The Rhythmic Forge: Crafting Art Through Fire and Steel
The rhythmic clang of a hammer striking an anvil fills the air, punctuated by the occasional sizzling of hot metal. In a sun-drenched backyard in northeast Los Angeles, nestled amidst a lush array of succulent plants and antique treasures, Heather McLarty is forging a long-handled spoon in a shape reminiscent of a musical note. Her workspace, a small forge under a tent crafted by her husband, Troy Evans, is a testament to her passion and dedication to the art of blacksmithing.
McLarty’s forge is a place where tradition meets innovation, reflecting her respect for the craft's history while embracing a modern, inclusive mindset. In addition to standard tools, she uses several custom-made implements, adapting them for specialized techniques like sheet metal work. This resourcefulness is key to her process. Her work space is a vivid blend of the old and the new, where centuries-old methods coexist with contemporary creativity
From Theater Technician to Steel Artist
Heather McLarty’s journey into metalwork began in the late 1970s as a theater technician, where she built props and sets involving steel fabrication. Her work in theater ignited a fascination with steel's potential. Initially focused on fabricating steel furniture, McLarty’s path took a turn in the early 1990s when she discovered forging. Watching steel come "alive" in the forge captivated her. This marked the beginning of her transformation from a set constructor to an artist shaping metal.
Her early days as a blacksmith were marked by self-teaching in an era before the internet. Relying on books, she learned the basics of the craft and sought out a community that would support her journey. This search led her to the Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA), a group that welcomed her with open arms. "The community was super supportive, and everybody was there just to teach people anything they wanted to learn," she recalls. This warm embrace came at a time when female blacksmiths were extremely rare, a reality that fueled her commitment to promoting inclusivity in the craft.
ABANA played a pivotal role in McLarty's development as a blacksmith. It was not just the technical knowledge that drew her in, but the community's generosity and openness to teaching. The group's president at the time was a woman, which reinforced for McLarty that she belonged in the forge. Today, she continues to champion this inclusivity as a member of the Society for Inclusive Blacksmiths, advocating for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of various races in a field historically dominated by men.
Embracing Community and Inclusivity in Blacksmithing
The spirit of mentorship she experienced is now something she embodies. "People were so generous to me when I started that I'm more than happy to pass it on; it's my duty," she says, recognizing the importance of knowledge sharing to keep the craft alive.
The Full-Body Art of Forging
For McLarty, blacksmithing is a full-body experience. It involves physics, math, imagination, and soul. "I love the physicality of it... It involves every part of me," she explains. She describes the act of forging as both exhilarating and visceral, taking a material that is tough and lifeless and making it come alive under the heat and force of her hammer.
The work is demanding, requiring not just strength but an acute sensitivity to the metal's changing state. McLarty forgoes gloves while forging, preferring to feel the subtle responses of the steel through the hammer, which she describes as an extension of her body. "If I have a glove in between, there's less of that... there's a little barrier between that," she says. Each hammer strike provides crucial feedback, guiding her next move and refining the final shape of her creation.
Blacksmithing offers McLarty moments of deep focus and tranquility, particularly in the technique of high-relief chasing. This method involves working the metal from the front using hammers and specialized tools, often without heating it. The process is intricate, requiring precision and patience, and it becomes a meditative experience for her. "Chasing totally sucks me in," she says. "Everything else goes away, and it's just watching that material move... tap tap, tap tap, tap tap all day long."
The Zen of Chasing
The intensity of her focus during these moments creates a sense of zen that contrasts with the physical demands of forging hot steel. McLarty finds joy in watching the metal "squish" under the hammer's blows, a sensation that never gets old for her. "Taking a hot piece of steel out and hitting it with a hammer... that never gets old to me," she adds.
As the board chair of Adam's Forge, a non-profit in Los Angeles, McLarty dedicates herself to passing on her skills to a new generation of blacksmiths. The forge offers classes and workshops for people as young as 12, introducing them to the transformative power of working with steel. While she doesn’t often teach the basic hot forging classes, McLarty specializes in more nuanced techniques, particularly sheet metal work.
Sharing the Craft
"I tend to teach the weird classes... the less structured classes," she says, reflecting her preference for the intricate and unpredictable aspects of metalworking. McLarty sees this educational effort as a way to keep the craft alive, especially since blacksmithing was nearly extinct in the United States by the 1970s. "People were so generous to me when I started that I'm more than happy to pass it on; it's my duty," she adds, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and nurturing the community.
From Backyard Forge to Hollywood Set
McLarty's expertise has even found its way into Hollywood. Her friend Tony Swatton, who creates arms and armor for film and television, brought her onto the set of "The Mandalorian." She served as a body double and advisor for actress Emily Swallow in scenes involving blacksmithing, guiding her on proper techniques. "So I did that, worked as her stunt person and advisor," she shares, adding that her hands-on experience lent authenticity to the portrayal of the craft on screen.
Forging a Path for Future Blacksmiths
Heather McLarty encourages anyone interested in blacksmithing to take the plunge. She advises starting with hands-on classes rather than relying solely on online videos, where the quality of information can vary. "If you think you’re interested at all, absolutely try it. If you hate it, then stop," she suggests, emphasizing that blacksmithing’s unique blend of physicality, creativity, and community might just captivate those who give it a chance.
In McLarty's backyard forge, the centuries-old art of blacksmithing thrives amidst the modern hum of Los Angeles. With each hammer strike, she not only shapes steel but also forges a path for others to discover the craft’s physical and mental challenges, its moments of zen, and the community that makes it all possible.
For more info, please visit Steel Crazy, Adam’s Forge and the Society for Inclusive Blacksmiths.