New Orleans blacksmith teaches apprentice to restore historic ironwork

Darryl Reeves works at Andrew’s Welding and Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans, where he forges iron by hand.

Reeves is one of the few local practitioners who maintains the city's historical ironwork tradition. His grandfather also worked as a blacksmith. Reeves recalled being sent away from his grandfather’s shop as a boy, though he remembered watching metalworkers strike hot metal and create sparks. He said those early observations influenced his decision to work with metal.

The craftsman creates various items, including iron hinges, hand-forged designs such as metal leaves, and his own tools. He stated that transforming raw metal provides him with joy. He noted that beating on metal allows people to release frustration. Reeves has restored historic structures throughout the city, including the fence in front of the Cabildo. He used plans dating back to the 1790s for that project. He described the process as a conversation with the person who originally fabricated the piece.

Reeves now trains a younger generation of workers. Karina Roca moved to New Orleans from Boston to apprentice under him. Roca said she saw a PBS program about Reeves more than ten years ago and decided she wanted to study under him. She has worked in the blacksmith shop for five years. Roca is currently completing a master’s degree in historic preservation at Tulane University.

Roca said the work helps preserve the aesthetic of New Orleans. She noted that the style reflects Spanish, West African, and French influences. She described the ironwork as a symbol of the space where these cultures have converged for centuries. Reeves continues to produce hand-forged pieces to maintain the city's architectural history.