INDUCTION FURNACE WORKSHOP

Senior Spotlight : David Holub

       

Artist Statement

Public bench people watching, country creek living organism stirring, my work is like an innate glare, an observation provoked into a personal reflection locked in the Ivory Tower.

I grew up with an overlapping understanding of the world, by relating biological elements from childhood explorations: I’m still just an over grown child.  I like to examine personalities, by turning the contrast volume up on a character’s inner workings, including self.  For me, manipulations of mediums is an investigation, instigating anthropomorphic imagery and form.  Through these processes of art, the end results are ideas expressed by seizing moments as sculpture, stark and quirky.

I work with casting materials; metals, glass, and found objects. The use of different materials helps me create a vocabulary that when it all boils down in 2D &  3D, I edit,  chop them up and put it all back together like a mad scientist.

My recent work delves into the idea of self-deconstruction.  I have been finding myself going back and working with a hand modeled self portrait bust, redeveloping a past self perception physically by subtle destructions and cycles of opposites.  Like a natural forest fire’s self-deconstruction of the old school to create that, “New New”, untainted and naive. By exploiting these juxtapositions I’m searching for a balance that struggles.

David Holub 2012

Nor'easter Iron Preconference Workshop at Alfred

'Environmental Foundry Workshop : Clay Molds For Cast Iron, A Sustainable and Viable Practice.

This Nor'Easter Pre-conference Workshop will be held at The National Casting Center Foundry, Alfred University, New York.

  

Led by Professor Coral Lambert, Director of the National Casting Center Foundry the workshop will cover African Ashanti and Japanese Sogata Clay molding. Participants will learn recipes, techniques and produce molds to be cast in iron at the Nor'easter conference in Buffalo.  http://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/noreaster/
The 'Environmental Foundry Workshop' will run from  Fri Nov 9th - Tuesday 13th 2012
Each day will consist of a morning Demo and an afternoon Lecture. Particpants will have full access to the facilties at The National Casting Center Foundry for hands on mold making. Charcoal firing of the clay molds will take place at Alfred and be transported to the conference in Buffalo byTuesday 13th Nov.

Spaces are limited to the first ten to sign up. Deposit $50.
A total cost of $120 will be for materials, and transport of molds to the conference which is about a two hour drive.

Lodging as well as travel to and from Alfred and Food will the the responsibility of the individual. We will be more than happy to arrange pick up and drop off at the local airport/bustop/Amtrak can be arranged.

Checks payable to Alfred University : We have no payment online set up so please mail your chack payable to Alfred University to Professor Lambert, Chair of Sculpture Dimensional Studies, Alfred University, 2 Pine Street, Alfred, NY 14802.

For further information please contact Professor Coral Lambert at lambertc@alfred.edu

www.alfredmeltdown.blogspot.com

Pour Your Heart Out

Senior Spotlight: Jeff Crawford

Artist Statement

Much of what we know about cultures is what its people have left behind; artifacts. My desire is that my work will one day become an art'in'fact, and my lineage will be carried on. My attraction to creating with metal and stone has to do with their inherent properties and capability to withstand the perils of time. Through the use of these materials I am becoming more intimate with my roots, using materials my ancestors manipulated to leave a footprint of their existence. The more I discover about my heritage, the more I discover about who I am. The work is an investigation of my Scottish genealogy; it is a reflection of where the surname Crawford came from, and who these people were.

Jeff Crawford 2012

Senior Spotlight : Hannah 'Bonny' Crowl

Artist Statement

The codes of social expectations have influenced all individuals; relying on that influence to create the norms through repetition and ritual. These standards are often expected; individuals and the consequences for failing to meet these demands commonly result in discrimination and social alienation. My work reflects a fear of these rejections. Using metal my work portrays the resistance to change, permanency of social influence, and desperation caused by fear. Fear of social rejection can result in the modification of physical elements, some perceive these modifications as violent, others see them as necessary adjustments. All of my pieces reference the human body on a life-size scale, but have oppositions made in various other dimensions manipulating the body. The scale of my body castings are life size so they can instill the viewer with a sense of sympathy and self-reflection. My portrayal of the contradiction of humanity using mechanics to feel more “human” is indiscriminate, allowing the viewer have a personal interaction with each sculpture.

Hannah Crowl 2012

Senior Spotlight: Robert Wheeler

Artist Statement

The world has experienced a paradigm shift from analog to digital over the last 70 years. A result of this shift was the birth of the Internet, which truly connected the world for the first time via high speed, high bandwidth fiber optic cables. Global conductivity of ideas, money, and goods has become far more efficient than it had been in the analog world.

Its 2012 and I am living in the long anticipated digital golden age of knowledge. The conductive forces of light, sound, metal, and electricity comprise my palette. The notion of a digitally connected society and its potential to either advance or destroy civilization is what helps to bring my artistic visions to life.

My works are an attempt at transcending vernacular language, through the use of these forces, in order to conduct a visceral response into the audience. Interactivity of the audience and my work is key in forming memories of the experience. The creation and storage of an organic memory derived from an object of digital origins raises the question, how truly connected to the digital realm is humanity?

Robert Wheeler 2012

POUR YOUR HEART OUT

You are invited to attend Pour Your Heart Out, the The Foundry Guild Public Fundraising Event, Saturday Feb. 11th from 2 – 6pm.



Events include:

‘Molten Metal Pour’ : Foundry Guild Students cast relief sculptures in hot metal : designed by YOU!

Also ‘Spin Art’ + ‘Raffle’ + ‘Silent Art Auction’ + ‘DJ Millhouse’

Auction + Raffle will end at 5 pm

T-Shirts, Food and Beverages available from the Foundry Guild !

Proceeds will be split 50/50 between Doctors Without Borders and The Foundry Guild Student Club for participation in National and International Conferences. TO RESERVE A $10 'RELIEF SCULPTURE' TO MAKE A RELIEF PLEASE email Jeff Crawford at JCT4@alfred.edu.

POUR YOUR HEART OUT : SUCCESS!

$2,500 of success and we are still counting!
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Even though the weather was not the best we had a great turn out with people coming from all over to watch free flowing Molten Metal and participate in making 'Relief Sculptures'.

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Everyone filled up on some classic Guild Cheese Sandwiches, poured and danced away the afternoon to music provided by DJ Millhouse.

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The Silent Art Auction comprised of over 110 pieces donated by students, faculty and local Alfred artists.

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Thank You to everyone who participated : the money raised will be split between The Alfred A + E Crandall Hook and Ladder Company and Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.
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We still have some T-Shirts left at $5 each so please contact the Foundry Guild if you would like to order one.

LIZ HELFER VISIT

TALK + PIZZA : TUESDAY 8th Feb 2011 @ 7pm


2010 Alfred Graduate Liz Helfer returns to give a talk about her experience of making large scale work as an intern at Franconia Sculpture Park in Minnesota last summer. As well as working at the park with resident visiting artists she also created her own work, 'Most Heat Moon' a floating Sculpture which she sailed down the St Criox River.

Join Liz for some Pizza + a Talk as she shares her experience and informs about current opportunites for you at Franconia Sculpture Park this coming summer !

"The Miniature and Beyond"

Students in the junior level Sculpture Foundry class were asked to find an object small enough to fit into the palm of their hand and respond to it in a way that captures the most vital and interesting qualities of that object to them. Their final project could be a series of cast parts which could take the form of an installation incorporating other materials along with the cast object. Here are some examples of their work as seen in the Sculpture Galleries for their midterm critique with Professor Lambert.

Alex Reed : Cast Iron, Aluminum + Railroad Spikes and Turf.

Aaron Spadaro : Enamelled Cast Iron, Toys and Debris.

Margaret Cohen : Centrifugal Cast bronze + Fillament.

David Holub : 'Self' Cast Aluminum + Bronze

Sharie Willey : 'Comparisons' Cast bronze, Iron, Aluminum + Stone

Christiana Allen : Cast Bronze + Bone

Andrew Brisson : Cast Bronze, Gold Fish + Aquarium

JEFF KALSTROM

VISITING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Nationally recognized cast metal sculptor from Minnesota will work in the foundry alongside students from April 1st - 10th. Kalstrom's sculpture uses animal archetypes to consider human identity, examining animal images that carry meanings and reflects the dynamic that their form and behavior have with our cultural myths.

ARTIST PRESENTATION

Thursday April 8th

6pm Room C – 106 BMH

All events are free + open to everyone!
Supported in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board

POUR For HAITI !

The Alfred Foundry Guild invite you to help raise money and awareness for the Earthquake Victims of Haiti.


Members of the community of Alfred, and surrounding towns are invited to visit the Foundry to create their own ‘relief sculpture’ by carving a design into a block of sand which you can then watch being cast in hot metal by Foundry Students.

A suggested donation of $10 is given in exchange for the experience of making a sculpture which participants can take home with them the same day. This activity is open to adults and children with adult supervision. Anyone can do it! As Alfred Foundry Students will be there to guide you through the process of carving the designs.The tools for carving the designs will be provided.

All money raised will be directly donated to a legitimate charity working with the earthquake victims of Haiti.

Other events include : Silent Art Action, Raffle of goods + services donated by area businesses, Music, T-shirts and food such as The Foundry 'Guild Cheese' sandwiches!

So come along, hang out, eat, listen to music, meet the artists, see great art, buy great art and watch the action of the metal being melted and poured to create sculpture and best of all you can do all this whilst raising money and awareness for the Haiti Earthquake Victims!

Senior Spotlight : Tom Wulf

Foundry Senior Tom Wulf's "Flamingo Pickaxe', pictured here with 'Baby Sledge' has been selected to represent Alfred Sculpture Division at the “SUNY Art Student Exhibition Series” at Suny Albany, New York. The exhibition will run from February 15 to May 28, 2010.

Each Spring and Fall the exhibition will enable the SUNY community, as well as the larger Albany community, to experience first hand the excellent art being produced by the student artists who learn within the SUNY System.
Out of that exhibit two pieces are chosen as the Best in Show and are awarded a $1000 scholarship and four pieces are given an honorable mention with a $500 scholarship.

SUMMER SCHOOL ENROLLMENT OPENS MARCH 15th!

SCULPTURE : Iron Casting Demystified
Faculty: Coral Lambert, Professor of Sculpture

May 17 - June 4, 2010 (3 weeks)
Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm

This 3 week course provides a unique opportunity to explore an expanding contemporary art form within a rich tradition. Students will experience the art and act of iron casting from the ground up by learning how to build and operate an 800# Iron Cupola Furnace, make molds, cast and finish sculpture. Skills taught include furnace building, welding, wax working, ceramic shell, sand molding, Iron Pour preparation, casting iron, metal finishing, chasing and patination.

Topics covered are Contemporary Cast Iron Sculpture and the Tradition of Iron Casting.

Students will have the freedom to experiment, no experience necessary.

TO REGISTER GOT TO: WWW.ALFRED.EDU/SUMMER/SCHOOL

FOR ACCOMMODATIONS CALL THE STUDENT SERVICE CENTER ON 607 871 2123

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL CATHLEEN JOHNSON @ THE SCHOOL OF ART ON 607 871 2412