When The Student Becomes The Teacher: Avery Lockwood-Johnston

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When The Student Becomes The Teacher: Avery Lockwood-Johnston

By Cathy Niland | 07.27.2022

In 2016, just before their freshman year of high school, Avery Lockwood-Johnston took their first Crucible class—Youth Blacksmithing Immersion. Over the next couple of years, they explored techniques in jewelry, glass blowing, welding, and beyond, but nothing captured their attention like swinging a hammer in the Smithy.

Avery has been exposed to art-making since day one. Their mother, Mandy Lockwood, is a muralist and mixed-media artist. “We always had art in the house growing up,” they shared. “I helped my mom do a mural at my elementary school. We used to play with clay a lot, glitter on everything—I’ve eaten, slept, and breathed art since I was born.” And while Avery came to The Crucible with plenty of art-making experience under their belt, blacksmithing offered them something completely new.

“When I was 14, I really liked hitting things with hammers,” shared Avery. “I was going through a tough time and I needed to get out my frustration. Blacksmithing allowed me to do that creatively. Art is therapy and blacksmithing especially so. You get the ‘I just made this’ endorphins and the exercise endorphins in one.”

Avery becomes a leader

Over the next two years, Avery continued to develop their blacksmithing skills. In 2018, one of their instructors, Celeste Flores, recommended they apply to our Fuego Youth Leadership program, an annual summer program for high school students. With a mentor’s help, participants spend four weeks building new industrial arts skills, while also supporting instructors during youth summer camp classes as paid teaching assistants.

Avery has always identified as a leader and the opportunity to build on those skills while making art felt like a no-brainer. “I would have had to be an idiot to say no! It’s getting paid to do art!” But the Fuego Youth Leadership Program wasn’t always easy. “It was tough! You go in thinking, ‘This is going to be great!’ but people don’t tell you there are going to be hard parts.” Still, Avery persevered, even when they felt like giving up, and left each summer program with a one-of-a-kind original artwork. “Fuego taught me to finish what I started, even when it’s hard.”

From mentee to mentor

Avery completed their two summers as a Fuego Youth Leader in 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But even when our studio was closed and classes were on pause, they were determined to stay connected to the blacksmithing community. During that time, they took on their first teaching gig at Trackers Bay, and worked as an assistant to their former instructor, Celeste, in exchange for studio space. But Avery was still eager to get back to The Crucible. They officially joined our blacksmithing faculty in early 2021.

Since then, Avery has taught dozens of youth and adult workshops and classes. “Genuinely, teaching is the most rewarding job. People leave with a new skill and that’s empowering. Working with your hands completely changes the way people think. It’s about taking people from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’.” Last summer, their Crucible journey came full circle when they became a Fuego Youth Leadership Mentor. Their experience as a former Fuego has given them a unique perspective. “I understand what they’re going through, the challenges that they’re facing. I already went through it.”

What’s next for Avery?

Now, Avery is sharing what they’ve learned with other blacksmiths outside The Crucible. This summer, they’re traveling to Portland, Oregon to help a friend build out their studio, lending their tools, time, and knowledge. But no matter how far Avery may travel, they always expect to find their way back to The Crucible, sharing, “I love it here. It’s one of those places that you never really leave. it’s home”

Learn more about Crucible youth empowerment programs and how you can support the next generation of makers.