YV People Help Delete Winter Blues

Yadkin • Valley PEOPLE

Jerry Blankenship antidotes for the winter blahs

WRITER/PHOTOS J. Dwaine Phifer

Shorter January/February daylight hours and colder temperatures keep people inside. Less exposure to sunlight tends to trigger “winter blues.” Throw in the bother of snow/ice storms and lots of depressing gray days, people get antsy and bored. Creative handiwork or expressive art activities can become surefire energizing antidotes for the winter blahs.

The Yadkin Valley region fortunately has an abundance of gifted artists and imaginative minds among us. Perhaps the following thumbnail sketches of a few creative Yadkin Valley folks will serve to motivate and inspire all Yadkin Valley Magazine readers to scratch the itch of creative expression.

Jerry Blankenship works in metal. By trade, Jerry has spent 40 years as a blacksmith shoeing horses serving as a talented, dependable mainstay for the “Horse Community.” He became a blacksmith because he couldn't find a reliable person to shoe his own horses. He feels his craft has provided lots of fun and created strong relationships with both the two-footed and four-footed variety. His main artistic frustration arises when cankerous metal does not bend cooperatively. Jerry finds expressive satisfaction in the enjoyment others experience with his handcrafted knives, metal art pieces, and handmade tools. Horses have certainly benefited from his individually fitted shoes. His creative ironwork is impressive. Breathtakingly realistic iron flowers are amazing! Jerry takes pride in being self-motivated, selftaught and self-assured while being totally honest when describing himself. He is known as a supportive, albeit unconventional, teacher and artistic craftsman throughout the Yadkin Valley.

Jerry is also a life-long musician. He's played with several bands using the guitar, base guitar, or piano. The joy of music guided him down a second radically different career path. Because of music, he felt a call to reach others through the church. He completed his lay ministry training about five years ago and now serves as the pastor for Third Creek Presbyterian Church. His quirky wit and ability to paint mesmerizing word pictures keep folks awake and tuned-in each Sunday. Craftsman, farrier, storyteller, B-B-Q chef, and dedicated minister make “Jerry-moments” anything but dull! Contact: jerrylblank@yahoo.com.

Thanks to archaeological finds, manmade glass apparently has been a part of human existence since sometime between 2750 and 2625 BC. Glass jewelry beads, made by early Egyptian artisans, serve as a reminder that a seemingly fragile substance certainly has staying power. The Romanesque style of architecture during the 10th and 11th centuries firmly established stained-glass as both a utilitarian architectural mainstay and a thing of inspirational beauty in cathedrals all across Europe.

Ron Neary has been working with stained-glass for 48 years. The inspiration for his artistic journey lies in his love for old Tiffany lamps. Ron feels his stained-glass work serves to energize a feeling of well-being for others. Ironically, choosing colors for each new project

may be about the only frustration he has when working with glass. Glass work serves both as a way to satisfy his love of self-expression and a way to bring joy to those who view his creations. “Fabulous” is the word folks tend to use upon seeing his handiwork. For Ron, each new piece begins “...with a feeling of a need to create art.” Ron likes to teach others. He says, “I'm old school”. He tells folks, “What works for me may not work for you. Give it a try. Find your own way.” He encourages learners to keep working and grow into their own style and methods for creating glass art. “Perseverance and practice are key words behind stained-glass creativity.” Ron highly recommends taking night classes in stained-glass work for both “first-timers” and seasoned artists. Seemingly, birds-of-a-feather become more creative when flocking together.

Contact: GLASRON@aol.com.

Ed Blankenship comes from a family of musicians. As his ability to produce music grew, he found songwriting was a positive emotional outlet. “Like therapy, so to speak,” he says. Ed sees his songs as life's stories told musically. The stories are either related to parts of his own life or those of someone he knows well. “By putting myself in someone's shoes, I can feel their struggle, their pain, or their joy.” Feelings translate into the notes and lyrics of a song presented in Ed's trademark style of County/ Blues/ Americana songwriting.

For Ed, as a songwriter and musician, how his listeners relate to his songs is tremendously meaningful. Listeners often say, “That song could be my life story!” Although he says his songwriting may be just a way for him to clear his own mind-clutter, Ed certainly has a place as a modern-day troubadour.

During his 45 years of playing music, Ed has always enjoyed jamming with other musicians. He has systematically encouraged others to play music. When talking to folks just getting started with music, he encourages them to join in with other musicians “every chance you get.” He points out how important it is to practice with musicians who are talented and skilled because they are more accomplished and mature in their craft. Ed states, “You'll be amazed how much faster you'll progress.”

Not only is Ed a talented musician, he's also a creative and talented contract carpenter. After years of running his own successful business, he's now taken on a new role as a high school carpentry teacher. The structured school-day calendar will certainly open up more free hours for songwriting and performing. Ed's life's motto is, “Don't give up. Keep learning, and have fun jamming.” Contact: edsmusic50@gmail.com or visit his website, Ed Blankenship Music.

Ray Davies has spent almost 45 years working with wood, During the past eight years Ray has focused on the artistic crafting of beautiful cutting boards, charcuterie boards, and wine-cork protective table trivets. Before devoting full time to his woodwork shop creations, continued on page 70

Ed Blankenship