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"Fisk- National Living Treasure" Press ReleaseWILMINGTON, NC -- Jerry Fisk, a Lockesburg, Ark., bladesmith/knifemaker, has been named the 1998-99 National Living Treasure by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Museum of World Cultures.
North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt solicited nominations from governors nationwide. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee nominated Fisk for the honor.
UNCW Chancellor James R. Leutze will present the award to Fisk at a banquet 7 p.m., Saturday, March 13, in the Warwick Center ballroom.
As National Living Treasure, Fisk will receive a bronze medal designed by Stephen D. LeQuire, sculptor and associate professor of art at UNCW. As with past medals, it will be custom-designed to specifically honor this year's recipient. There is also a monetary award.
Fisk, who became interested in the art of making knives and swords at age 10, is a perfectionist. An internationally respected craftsman of knives, swords, daggers and other decorative weaponry, he spends hundreds of hours hammering up to 20,000 layers of steel for each blade. Intricately detailed and ornate, each blade is functional and performance reliable. Occasionally, Fisk accents his creations with precious metals and gems.
Currently field editor for Blade magazine, Fisk has had knives featured on the cover of six publications including Knife World, Fighting Knives, Knives Illustrated and Ken Warner's Knife annual. In addition, he has written a book on Damascus steel which is used as a textbook at the Arkansas-based School of Bladesmithing.
The National Living Treasure award, presented every two years, was originated in 1992 by Dr. Gerald Shinn, former director of the Museum of World Cultures, and Estell Lee, former North Carolina secretary of economic and community development. Past recipients include Dale Chihuly, a Washington State glassblower; Toshiko Takaezu, a New Jersey ceramic artist; and Nancy Crow, an Ohio quilt maker.
The award is designed to honor Americans working in traditional handcrafts using wood, glass, ceramics, metal and textiles who transform them into art.
The National Living Treasure Award is an outgrowth of UNCW's North Carolina Living Treasure award. UNCW is one of 16 institutions that make up the state's multi-campus system and was ranked ninth among top regional public universities in the South in U.S. News and World Report's 12th annual "America's Best Colleges" guidebook. In addition, UNCW also received top rankings for "best college value" and lowest student debt load.
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