Paper short abstract:

In my presentation I will focus on tourism related performances of two professional blacksmiths from Southeast Estonia who have created their own rural “taskscapes” in which they produce heritage that is presented in personalised enactments and narratives, making varied use of the past.

Paper long abstract:

Blacksmithing is one of the oldest crafts still practiced today, although in Western societies it is no longer a mundane part of people's lives, and forging is frequently introduced in public edutaining demonstrations (e.g. fairs, heritage sites, museums etc.). Being consciously selected and presented for public display, these performances may be considered as heritage production. Although in the context of tourism displays the craft is transformed by commodification, it seems that what captivates the audience is blacksmith as a knowledgeable performer and his skilful engagement. However, it is also the pertinent setting that makes a performance of blacksmithing especially persuasive, and what could be a better site than a farmstead with an actual smithy?

In my presentation I will focus on tourism related performances of two professional blacksmiths from Southeast Estonia. Both craftsmen have created their own rural "taskscapes", including smithies as well as their surroundings, for various performances (demonstrations for groups, workshops, forging a lucky horseshoe for newlyweds, etc.). In these "taskscapes" they produce heritage that is presented in personalised enactments and expressed in individual narratives, making use of both "real" and "imagined" past. I aim to analyse:

• What kind of devices and techniques are used by two craftsmen for creating their performances and how these relate to their identity?

• How taskscapes of both blacksmiths support their performances and heritage production?

• What are the personal meanings of the craft and its past for these blacksmiths and how do they mediate these meanings to the tourists?