Bluff View Art District invites the community to kick off this year's holiday season with a unique alternative to Black Friday shopping.
Following the European tradition of an outdoor holiday market, Bluff View visitors will see local pastry chefs, bakers, coffee roasters and a French chocolatier at work as they hand-make food delights and debut some of the season's most highly anticipated culinary offerings.
This will all take place at Black Friday Open House on the Bluff on Friday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 41 E. Second St.
Bring some of this European tradition to your home for the holidays. One-day shopping specials will be found throughout the district.
* Bluff View holiday fun continues Saturday, Nov. 30, when coppersmith Robert Taylor gives a demonstration at River Gallery, 400 E. Second St., from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Taylor is a Master Roycroft Artisan - one of only five coppersmiths in the country to hold that title. His work is detailed, patterned and completely handmade.
He began working with metal as a blacksmith about 28 years ago. Through the years, he has studied with many master blacksmiths from the United States and Europe. After seven years of concentrating on iron, he was introduced to copper. Taylor started coppersmithing by making whimsical critters and weather vanes.
A copper Cahaba Lily is one of his most popular floral pieces, although he also makes irises, magnolia blossoms, roses and orchids.
The coppersmith uses traditional techniques such as repose', chisel and chase work, hammer texture and riveting. These require very precise actions to execute. Each hammer blow must meet the previous, all succeeding in a line and each line must meet the next. This gives a very intentional and patterned look.
Repose' gives depth to a piece by forcing the metal forward and bringing out the detail of an image. Each image is worked from the front and back of the metal to achieve that effect.
His demonstration is free and open to the public.
For more information: 423-682-1287.