The Firepoker Challenge at Hartley Historic Village

Would you like to try your hand at the time-honoured art of blacksmithing?

You carefully remove the red hot steel from the glowing fire of the blacksmiths forge, you place it on the anvil and begin to strike it with the hammer, you can feel the metal start move and yield to the blows. Working quickly you shape, bend and twist the metal before it goes cold, before long you have created your first piece of wrought iron, a lovely sculpted fire poker, made with your very own hands.

This christmas the Talisman Gallery in Hartley will be running the Firepoker Challenge, where local blacksmiths and metal artists Ron Fitzpatrick and Steve Cunningham will be on hand to guide you through the making of your very own firepoker. Which of course you get to take home with you.

"After the huge success of the Easter challenge which saw 70 people come and try their hand at some wrought iron work we decided to run it again" says Ron."What was great about the last challenge was seeing how many woman enjoyed it. We also had couples who did it as a bonding exercise, whole families looking for something to do, young and older people."

For others, the Firepoker Challenge fulfilled a lifelong wish to try blacksmithing. As Neal remarked on the gallery's Facebook page, "Great fun... thanks for this once in a lifetime opportunity."

The Christmas Firepoker Challenge will be held over 4 days, starting Boxing day, 26th December.  There will be 2 sessions per day, 10am- 12pm and  1pm- 3pm.  The cost is $20 per person, including materials and tuition. Decent footwear is required. Places are limited, so bookings are essential. Phone the Talisman Gallery direct, on 0407 723 722.

Visitors to the Talisman Gallery can also browse the amazing range of metal sculpture, art mirrors, clocks and a whole room of selected imported hand crafted silver jewellery.  The gallery is located in the Hartley Historic Village, 300 metres from the turnoff to Jenolan Caves.  It is an ideal stop-off on the way to the caves, with another gallery, gift shop, cafe serving great food and coffee and public toilets.

Talisman Gallery will be open every day, from Boxing day to Sunday 8 Jan.  After that, the usual opening hours (10 - 5 Wednesday to Sunday) will apply.

Ph: 0407723722

Facebook: Talisman Gallery- Hartley.