Blacksmith William S. Rogers, now a resident of Jackson County, North Carolina, has received many honors from his native state of Tennessee, and his long-time home state of Virginia. A skilled educator as well as an artist, Rogers has collaborated with or been sponsored by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the Tennessee Arts Commission in a variety of residencies and apprenticeship programs.
Known in particular for his skill in pairing non-ferrous metals (copper, silver, etc.) with iron to create a diversity of colors and textures, Rogers teaches age-old traditional blacksmithing techniques as well as approaches that are of his own invention or other contemporary origin. He has served as a consultant for organizations developing blacksmithing programs, such as the West Virginia Children’s Museum in Beckley, and the Appalachian Center for Crafts in Smithville, Tennessee. Working with the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro, Rogers was part of an EPA-recognized project that pioneered the development of a methane-fired blacksmith’s forge.
William S. Rogers teaches at the John C. Campbell Folk School. He is a member of the Southern Highland Crafts Guild, and listed in the HandMade in America Craft Registry. His studio in Cullowhee provides “educational, consultation, and restoration services to museums, schools, and the public.”
Availability
William S. Rogers is available for a variety of work in relation to blacksmithing, from teaching and consultation to design and restoration.
