Exploring Futures: Joel Black

Exploring Futures is a module for our second year students. The module has two parts, students need to seek out work experience and also reflect on their future after the course and complete a personal/professional research document.

Joel says,

“For this module i decided to go and work with a Blacksmith called Jaz Asbury. I was aware that Jaz had a workshop on an industrial estate very near to where i lived and Jai, one of the students who left last year, is currently working with Jaz. Ambrose, our tutor, previously shared his workshop and last year he took Dan for work experience. This year, however, he will be having me work with him for a week.

Its always great to see how a professional practice works and it’s nice to be in a workshop with someone who makes a living out of his trade and has the equipment needed to keep up with demand.

The week i was there we made a lilly ballustrade for some stairs and a whole bunch of roses for the next bed that he has to do. Since my stint with Jaz i’ve been over to use his workshop a couple of times and I may even be able to arrange some time in his workshop over the summer. Its going to be a great opportunity to get on with some ‘smithing over the summer”.

Del