Forged from Fire

Forged from Fire tells the story of how an Australian and international community of blacksmiths, welders, artists and volunteers responded to the devastating Black Saturday bush-fires by creating perhaps the most ambitious public artwork and memorial in Australia – a three tonne, 9.8-meter tall stainless steel and copper gum tree – The Blacksmiths’ Tree.

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Background

On Black Saturday, 7 February 2009, townships north-east of Melbourne were threatened by firestorms. Considered Australia’s worst ever natural disaster it resulted in the highest loss of life and injuries from a bushfire in Australia. The conditions in which the fires were ignited and burnt were extreme. After the horror of immediate losses, people had naturally embarked on various journeys of repair and recovery. The Blacksmiths’ Tree was one of them.

Teasers

Stills

Crew

Writer / Director – Andrew Garton
Director of Photography – Mike Wilkins
Music – Invention in Time, Charles Brown, Neatly Folded Goat
Aerial footage courtesy of I-Drone, Brett Chilton and Michael Prinzi
Archival footage courtesy of Warwick Page, Quentin Fogarty and Quotable Productions
Time-lapse footage courtesy of Barry Thomas

Info

Financed with the assistance of Documentary Australia Foundation