Fire on the River brings the hottest art form to Literary Fest 2016

New Albany, MS– Beginning mid-morning on Saturday, September 24th, this year’s Literary Fest will present something unique in New Albany.

Fire on the River and the Hammer-In will be an opportunity for those interested in blacksmithing to get together and socialize and share knowledge. Bring your hammers and join in as the molten iron is being poured. This family friendly event with live music and food concessions will take place at the Farmers’ Market area near the Tallahatchie River.

Alabama Art Casting is a traveling forge which is coming to New Albany for a pour and a casting demonstration.  Molten cast iron is the art medium, and 2000 degrees is how hot the metal has to get to become liquid.  A completely portable mini foundry with cupola furnace, staffed by a professional artist pour crew, will introduce onlookers to this hot art.

This is  a rare event, so bring the family, your Frisbees and your lawn chairs–see what goes into the art of the pour. And enjoy the music, food and fun. Just remember that blacksmithing, in general, has a lot to do with hot forges, heavy anvils, hammers and hot iron–so make sure you and your kids observe reasonable safety precautions.

Cast Iron Foundry artist Johnny Williams and a coworker from Alabama Art Casting will meet with high school art students to help with scratch block carving that will be poured Saturday at Fire on the River. Scratch blocks pre-carved by local folks will be the molds into which the liquid iron will flow to produce works of art.

If you are interested in having your designs turned into cast iron, call 662-538-0014.

Alabama Art Casting is a nonprofit arts and education organization devoted to the collection and preservation of traditional and modern methods of pattern making, mold making and iron casting processes. They have been in operation at Tannehill Historic Ironworks State Park near Birmingham, AL since 1999.  For more information, check out Alabama Art Casting at www.alabamaartcasting.org.

ABOUT THE MUSIC:

The Blues Doctors (Delta blues and urban grooves) will be performing live music at Fire on the River, along with a return engagement by Oxford’s The Cakewalkers (Mississippi Skiffle). There will also be a real,  live “cakewalk” during their performance, so bring the kids!

The Blues Doctors and the Cakewalkers: http://nanewsweb.com/blues-doctors-cakewalkers-to-perform-at-literary-fest-september-24th/

For a details about the Blues Doctors and a taste of their talents: Down at the Crossroads

Check the Event Schedule for other Literary Fest activities happening on Saturday the 24th: Literary Fest 2016