© 2025. The Trustees of Indiana University
Copyright Complaints
1229 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
News, Arts and Culture from WFIU Public Radio and WTIU Public Television
Give Now
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Federal funding for public media has been eliminated — we need your help to continue serving south central Indiana
Some web content from Indiana Public Media is unavailable during our transition to a new web publishing platform. We apologize for the inconvenience.

WFIU is conducting upgrades to essential studio equipment. These upgrades may cause temporary interruptions to WFIU and WFIU2’s broadcasting and streaming. Thank you for your patience.

'Urban Forge: Ozark Artistry' Premieres March 4 On WTIU

Go behind the scenes at Urban Forge — a blacksmith shop dedicated to creativity, skill, and artistry — in Urban Forge: Ozark Artistry premiering Thursday, March 4 at 8pm.

Forged in fire — with attention, sweat and love — the creations of a talented group of men and women in Mountain View, Arkansas, are keeping the time-honored tradition of metal smithing alive.

See how — and go behind the scenes at Urban Forge — in original documentary “Urban Forge: Ozark Artistry.”

In this rich, artisan story, you’ll get to know the craftsmen whose skill, creativity and artistry are moving their ancient art into the future — and you’ll come with us to explore the meticulously crafted, custom pieces they create.

Leading the way are Andy Baker and his dad, Corky Baker, who put their experience in construction, engineering and design to work when they took over Stone County Ironworks, a blacksmith shop in the hills of the Ozark Mountains, in 2009. In 2018, the Urban Forge brand was launched to showcase the work of their artisan blacksmiths.

blacksmith-2.jpg

These master craftsmen will bring us into their world and work from concept to completion — showing you the intense and delicate processes they use to mold and finesse raw materials into heirloom products.  With them, we’ll learn more about the tools and techniques that date back centuries and explore the dedication it takes to form these functional works of art.

It doesn’t end with watching, though! During the program premiere Thursday, March 4 at 8pm, you can do your own part to keep the tradition alive — and support public media — by making a donation to WTIU.