A Blacksmith in our midst
YOU'D THINK you'd have to go a long way these days to find a fair dinkum blacksmith.
Not so: Stephen Viola, from Wombat Forge, is a modern day blacksmith living and working from his home on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Born and raised in Melbourne, from a very early age Steve was always interested in art and design.
Steve's unique talent has long been recognized, receiving accolades from exhibitions throughout Australia and overseas as well as the prestigious 'Heidelberg School Young Artist'.
Steve specialises in creating unique, sometimes intricate pieces that can be either functional, decorative, or even both.
Because all of his designs are totally hand wrought, no two pieces are ever the same.
Steve had long dreamt of establishing his own forge in a rural area and, with his partner Katiuska Cruz sharing that dream of a studio space in the country, they set out to find the right place - and that place was Dorrigo.
Steve's work, along with that of other local artisans, is on show today at the Made in Dorrigo street market, from 8am to 2pm, in Hickory Street, Dorrigo.
