Thanks for visiting our new web site. The CVBF is an association on blacksmiths in San Angelo TX. We meet every 1st Saturday at The Old Chicken Farm Art Center, located at 2505 MLK. Truth is, several members also show up on the 3rd Saturdays and some come out nearly every Saturday to share ideas and stoke up the forge.
Pat Cheatham, our founding father, is a blacksmith icon in the area and has kept the forge hot for many years. Pat remains the face of blacksmithing in the San Angelo area and is the driving force behind the Annual Blacksmith Fellowship. 1985 Pat moved his shop to the Art Center and began to hold his annual Blacksmith Fellowship on the grounds. Meantime he has built a house and shop out of town, but the 3 day meeting on the 1st weekend of May continues at the Art Center.
While working for the city, Pat was very active demonstrating at Fort Concho. He traveled too to the San Antonio Rodeo and many Texas forts to share his love of the craft with the public. Joe Jay, another long-time area blacksmith, often joined Pat at these events.
For several years in the 80s and 90s, Pat's shop was at the Art Center. Then he retired, and married wonderful Ann and moved out on Dove Creek. The shop moved with them. However, we talked Pat into developing a forge at the Art Center in order to continue the Blacksmith Fellowship. So, for some time now Pat, Joe, Bart, and others are a regular attraction on the 1st Weekend Saturday.
Joe Jay, Pats consistent sidekick all these years, is now in his retirement and still finds time to come forge with the young folks that always show up on 1st Saturdays. In addition to loving to help kids, Joe is a specialist at creating tools out of old parts of trucks.
THE BLACKSMITH FELLOWSHIP - ANNUAL MAY GATHERING and WORKSHOP
Every year a devoted group of blacksmiths gathers at the Chicken Farm Art Center the
1st Weekend in May. Pat Cheatham, Joe Jay, Bart Burnett, Cham Chamless and several others join in and hold a special celebration of blacksmithing.
Over the years the group was successful in bringing in outside demonstrators to lead the Blacksmith Fellowship . Some of the best smiths in the country found their way to San Angelo on the 1st Weekend in May.
As owner and director of the Chicken Farm Art Center since 1971, Roger Allen watched this group grow and struggle and grow again. He has a lot of respect for the determination, effort and consistency of Pat and the group. These smiths developed a great teaching event which is open to the public.
Roger, a potter, thinks potters have more fun but is convinced blacksmiths share the most knowledge. Come and see for yourself what this event is all about.
You are always welcome.
