Respectfully.....Mr. Fisk?

Joined
Mar 12, 1999
Messages
377
I have seen several references to Jerry Fisk (Mr. Fisk to me) as a "National Living Treasure."
Who bestowed that designation?
Thanks
 
UNC Wilmington Museum of World Cultures if I remember correctly. I'm sure others will jump in if I've screwed up;)
 
You are correct! It was UNCW, where I went to college long ago. I heard about the presentation and got off work to go it. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Fisk (though I doubt he remembers me with all the people that were crowding around him). I can tell you that you won't meet a nicer fellow. I talked to him as much as I could about my amateur bladesmithing efforts, and arrowheads, and he was very free with helpful information. A true gentleman and very, very modest. I've been finding that these seem to be common qualities among the great knifemakers as I get to meet them. ;)

I was really pleased that they decided to give this award to an extremely talented bladesmith. Someone in the ivory tower was thinking.
 
That is correct. Jerry first received the Arkansas Governors Arts Award for Traditional Arts in 1998.

I believe that this was a prerequisite to his eligibility for nomination of National Living Treasure, which is designed to honor Americans working in traditional handcrafts using wood, glass, ceramics, metal and textiles who transform them into art. After receiving the Governors Arts Award, Jerry was nominated for the National Living Treasure award by Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas.

The award was presented by Chancellor James R. Leutze, at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Museum of World Cultures.

It was a great day for all of us, not just Jerry. This was the first time that bladesmithing was officially recognized on a national level as a true art form.
 
Jumbi
All three of the guys were right.
When I first found about the program and nomination I was really excited. I thought that as least knife making had its foot in the door. I talked with a couple of writers, pondered it myself and compiled a list of knifemakers that we were going to contact and see if we could get them in one at a time until someone actually recived it. I was shocked when them called.

I have been working recently here in Arkansas helping to establish a State Living Treasure program. Again, this is good for all Traditional arts and especially knifemaking. If we could get guys from all 50 states to do this, then get a knife maker appointed to each state by virture of the numbers of knifemakers it would bring attention to some of the fine artist knifemakers that we have. You have to go through your own
states heritage commission. As I understand it each state does have one. If you run into a problem just get one of your state senators to help. Show him your work. Have it set up for all traditional arts.

Nobody, yea I remember you. There was so many people there but I do remember the knifemakers. Good to hear from you again. Hope your knifemaking is coming along.
 
Glad you remembered! Large groups tend to overwhelm me bit.

Knifemaking has been going slow. The bottom of my home built truck drum coal forge has finally given out. I think I want to build a cost effective small gas forge next instead of rebuilding a coal fired forge again. It's on the "to do" list. Since it's not how I make money (it's how I spend money) it typically gets shoved to the bottom of the list. Maybe sometime this summer I'll be back up and hammering. ;)
 
Jerry a treasure?
Nah... :p ;)

But he is a hell of a guy! Had the (mis)fortune of meeting him at the Arkansas show last month. Has a great since of humor,offered help with any questions I had,let me fondle some of his blades,and has a good looking daughter (I wanna know how that happened!! ;) )

Jerry is number 1 in my book.
:D
 
Back
Top