Artists Corner
Artists Corner
Forged in a Fire
Benny Crevitt ’ s artwork takes shape in the flames
Benny Crevitt demonstrates his craft at Soulé Steam Feed Works . Story by Glenda Sanders , Photos by Thomas Howard
Some artists use a canvas and paintbrush to create their masterpieces , but not blacksmith Benny Crevitt , whose art pieces of flowers , candle holders , leaves and birds start in the heat of the flames .
Crevitt began working with iron as a hobby back in the 1970s , learning skills by hanging around other blacksmiths , doing part-time forge work and conducting lots of trials and errors . He had learned enough to become a full-time blacksmith when he retired from BellSouth in 1997 after 31 years with the company .
“ I have always been interested in old crafts . My grandfather was a blacksmith and my daddy was a
8 • MERIDIAN LIFE