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JCGEP announces its first blacksmith tenant |
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008 |
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The Jackson County Green Energy Park (JCGEP) announces that John Burtner, the park’s first blacksmith tenant, began his residency last month. John Burtner is Jackson County Green Energy Park’s first blacksmith tenant. JCGEP has two more blacksmith studios available. The unique forges at JCGEP are the first in the country to be fired with methane gas from a former landfill. Burtner was raised in Western Pennsylvania and has worked in the metals industry, horticultural sales and irrigation. He pursued his hobby of woodworking, specifically primitive bowyery (the art of making longbows), during this time. Burtner has long been interested in blacksmithing, but never had the opportunity to learn this craft until he and his wife, Jody, moved to Western North Carolina in 2007. At this time, Burtner is concentrating on small ironwork pieces that will be sold in shops and galleries throughout Western North Carolina. Burtner’s work can be found at the Oaks Gallery, located in Dillsboro’s Riverwood Shops. As part of its business incubator efforts, JCGEP offers equipped studio spaces, free landfill gas for fuel and professional development to its tenants. A total of three blacksmith studio spaces are available, and the unique forges at JCGEP are the first in the U.S. to be fired with methane gas from a former landfill. Tours of JCGEP are available on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, visit www.jcgep.org or email at
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