Date: August 10, 2005
Contact: Jerry Hightower, Park Ranger, 678-538-1245
Noted blacksmith artist, Michael Leggett, demonstrate his creative talents at the 2005 Chattahoochee River Summer Festival on Saturday, August 27th from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 28th from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Festival will be held at the Chattahoochee River Environmental Education Center in Alpharetta, GA, where Mr. Leggett will be at his forge in the Center’s upper Choestoe Meadow.
Raised on a family farm and aware that his great-grandfather was a blacksmith, Mr. Leggett has always maintained a fascination for the lost arts—particularly, blacksmithing. About 10 years ago he and his dad retrieved everything from his great-grandfather’s old shop and began to reassemble tools that had been in storage for over 40 years. After a few courses at blacksmithing school and some encouragement from other blacksmiths, Leggett discovered he had a natural flair for this lost art. Eventually Mr. Leggett incorporated the aesthetic ability he inherited from his mother into his auspices and decided to do blacksmith work for people so that their ideas could become a reality!
Michael Leggett continues his family farming tradition by managing his own cattle farm and small feed business today. Yet, Mr. Leggett also maintains another family tradition by creating and teaching blacksmithing to people all over the Southeast.
Today Mr. Leggett and his creative forgings are well known in the area for his work at the Tullie Smith farm of the Atlanta History Center and for his demonstrations at the Sandy Springs Festival, as well as the Chattahoochee River Summer Festival. His work can be found in homes throughout the region.
