The Blacksmith's Song

After the death of his wife, renowned blacksmith artist Steve Weis moved from Toowoomba to Kin Kin on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

2013 / Hamish Sewell / ABC's Into the Music, Australia

After the death of his wife, renowned blacksmith artist Steve Weis moved from Toowoomba to Kin Kin on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

Seeking to make sense of his life and recover from his grief, he cleaned up the surrounding industrial land and began building an array of metal sculptures from derelict metals, large fuel tanks, steel bars and gravel crusher parts.

Today his property hosts a vast sound garden full of works with a huge range of sonic potential. Whether it's the ambient tones of the Dueling Banjos, the resonant hum and rasp of the Wandjina or the brassy plinks and plonks of Whirlygig, all these sounds celebrate what Weis calls a "sizzlingness" in our existence.

The Blacksmith's Song was produced by Hamish Sewell for Into the Music on ABC Radio National. Cathy Peters is executive producer, and Mike Don is technical producer. Thanks to Steve Weis and his partner, Janka, ABC Radio National and the Sunshine Coast Regional Arts Development Fund.

Behind the Scenes: Hamish Sewell reflects thoughtfully (and with humor) on the challenge of producing radio about the intangible.