Alzheimer's Glass and Iron Cupolette

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Alzheimer's Glass and Iron- Spring 2014- Alfred University - Online Auction

Spring 2014-Alzheimer's Glass and Iron- Alfred University -Online Auction

An example of an iron oxide painting created by an elderly community member of Western NY and a  iron sculpture casted in homage by an Alfred University student.

Please check back for links to the:

 Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron- Alfred University

Spring 2014- Online Auction

Real Art vs. Modern Art

Video of 2013 MELTDOWN IRON POUR at the National Casting Center Foundry

Thank you Devin Henry for the excellent video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJDFvOm_tvk&feature=youtu.be

Coral Lambert, director of the National Casting Center Foundry- Volcano Furnace Performace at the 7th International Contemporary Cast Iron Arts Confrence

TAKEN FROM THE INTERNATIONALFE14 WEBSITE

"Volcano Furnace: An Earth Work Fire Performance
Coral Penelope Lambert

My proposal is to work with raw materials directly onsite at Pedvale such as clay, earth, iron, and stone where they will take the form of an earth mound and ancient inspired iron furnace. Stone boulders will be carved and mounded whilst the interior of the earth mound will be shaped with a mixture of clay and earth to include channels for air and a mouth for molten iron so that it can be operated as a functioning iron furnace on Midsummers eve. My aim is that the ‘Volcano’ can be a platform for performance and celebration as well as a place that visitors to the park can get closer to the sky.

The ‘Volcano’ is active but will remain a dormant earthwork and sculpture after its first Midsummers firing during the Conference. It does however have the potential to be re-activated.

As an artist who utilizes the foundry as a laboratory to explore the union of concept, process and the nature of ‘things’, my work over the past 20 years has manifested itself through heat ‘n’ treat practices such as moulding, melting, casting and fabricating. I have always been interested in the elemental and transformative nature of fire and as such I see the earth itself as both a foundry and a furnace. There is a parallel that can be drawn between the mountain and the furnace as a kind of matrix. In the eyes of many ancient cultures a cave in the side of a mountain was an entrance into a sacred world, to enter into the cave to reap the ores was akin to stealing the unripe fruit of mother nature for it was believed that if they were left there then all would mature to gold. The ores are then taken to the furnace, an apparatus that could speed up the work of nature. In this case when the ‘Volcano Furnace’ is tapped out molten iron will cast diamond shaped tablets into stone molds.

This sculptural earth work ‘Volcano’ continues to investigate the idea of speeding up the work of nature which is historically connected to the story of metal casting and use of fire. My proposal has a ritual component with the potential of an annual firing, at the same time the event may become something of myths and legends.

The artifacts from the ‘Volcano’ will remain on site or nearby. The Iron that is melted in the Volcano Furnace will run down spiraling channels echoing that of lava flows, the iron will fill pre carved stone molds where a diamond shaped slab is cast. Although the light on midsummers eve will never be completely dark these will glow and remain warm for sometime. Each tap is approximately 300#.

The markings allude to ancient solar observatories such as those in New Mexico, Peru or NewGrange in Ireland. The mound will be about 12 to 10 ft high so steps are molded into the mound using compacted earth and sod, the charging of the furnace will considered a ritual component, the dress of the charging crew will be considered and their actions choreographed.

I am also interested to hear from other artists who may wish to use this as a platform for other performance aspects or to collaborate in some way.

The inspiration for ‘Volcano Furance’ comes from my research into Ancient African Furnace Designs, although a traditional cupola furnace will be used inside the mound the exterior will reflect a different aesthetic : The ‘Volcano’ Furnace will be built into an earth mound at least 10ft in height. The ‘Volcano Furnace’ will tap out #300 of Iron three times. Three mouths of the furnace will be situated half way up the earth mound so Iron will flow into specific carved channels. The furnace will be operated for the rear of the earth mound where a cut is made for access.

"

7th International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art

Members of the Alfred University Foundry Guild as well as members of the Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron project are planning on attending the 7^th International Cast Iron Art Sculpture Symposium in Pedval,e Latvia.

“The 7^th International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art is being hosted at the Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum in Latvia during the week of the national Latvian celebration of the Summer Solstice from June 19 – 23, 2014. This conference will explore the conceptual and aesthetic context of sculptural iron casting and its effect on contemporary art, forms of ritual and the transformation of landscape. The conference will be a platform to share ideas, processes and work, and will contribute to the aesthetic and cultural dialogue of sculptural iron casting.”

The team plans to head to Latvia on June 1^st, so they have a few weeks to prepare for the big performance night. On the summer solstice cast iron and fire performances will be held all night long in celebration of Jāņi, June 23-24th

.

The team will be working on these projects while they are in Latvia:

·         Construction and Firing of 13ft Volcano Furnace created by Coral Lambert

·         An Ancient Mold Making Demo and Presentation by Becca Flis

·         A Presentation about the Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron project chaired by Rosemarie Oakman

·         Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron Forget Me Not Garden on the Volcano Furnace

For more information on the 7^th International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art

Please check out the website

http://www.internationalfe14.com/

Makers and Shakers International Sculpture Symposium in Miami Florida - Sand Mold Workshop and Iron Pour

The International Sculpture Symposium Makers and Shapers took place in Miami Florida between November 29^th and December  3^rd. Director of the National Casting Center and head of Sculpture and Dimensional Studies at Alfred University, Coral Lambert lead a cast iron workshop as part of the Symposium.

Artists from around the world, worked together at Florida International University to create sand molds and perform a cupola iron pour with the assistance of students from Alfred University and University of North Florida ,

Special thanks to Lance Vickery and Jenny Hager who ran their cupolette Julie, alongside Coral Lambert’s furnace Mothra.

 After the pour many of the workshop participants were able to attend the Miami Art Fairs including Art Basel, Aqua and Art Miami.

 Throughout the week Cuban coffee and pulled pork were enjoyed by all!

Artists participating in the workshop include:

Tamsie Ringler

Nikki Moser

Cynthia Handel

Laura Phelps Rogers

Jenny Hager

Lance Vickery

Marsha Pels

Susanne Roewers

Okay Ikenegbu

Greg Loring

Students assisting in the workshop include:

Becca Flis

Steven Rooney

Kevin Dartt

Sara Bruce

Rosemarie Oakman

Ian Skinner

Specials thanks to Florida International University for hosting the workshop and pour!

Our only vice is hot metal.

http://miamisymposium.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/the-makers-shapers-are-hotting-up-in-miami/

POUR YOUR HEART OUT!

Cupola Iron Pour featuring the Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron Project 

Noon- Dusk February 15th 2014

@ the National Casting Center Foundry at Alfred University in Alfred, New York

 -Relief molds will be for sale, community members are invited to scratch a pattern into a block of sand and watch as we fill molds with molten metal.

 * All scratch blocks will be poured, finished and ready to take home that day.

Featuring:
 
-Reactionary sugar molds.

-Hanging reactionary glass molds.

-Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron One Year Anniversary CAKE POUR.

-BAKE SALE - made possible by donations from the community of Alfred, New York.

Alfred University Foundry Guild 2013/2014

Meltdown 2013!!

PATINA CLINIC

Each semester we hold a patina clinic at the National Casting Center Foundry for the seniors as well as regular patina demos: here are some of the results:

A patina is the exterior color of metal. It is the result of a chemical reaction with the metal that literally changes the surface color and it can be either natural, man-made or both.

Luke Voytas is applying a cold patina of diluted flat black rustoleum enamel to his aluminum casting that provides depth and brings out the texture. This can be buffed back to highlight high and lows.

Senior Danny Van Winkle applies ferric nitrate to aluminum to give the affect that the diving helmet is made of heavy iron. One the ferric is washed off he is then applying some cupric nitrate to provide the sense of algi and history. It looks like it has been under the sea for eons!

Each one of Caleb Fletcher's eye collection has a different patina combination: blacks, blues, browns, reds and yellows are applied so each one is unique. The color was chosen to reflect the eye color of loved ones.

Cast Iron : first sandblasted and a light coat of ferric nitrate is sprayed on and washed off with water to give one overall even color. Life Body Cast by Senior Caleb Fletcher

Senior Sarah May spend several hours buffing and polishing the Cast Iron to achieve this beautiful mirror effect. Start with a coarse grit and sanding and polishing in a circular motion up to a 500 grit, eventually using a buffing pad and buffing polish.

A Patina can make all the difference once the sculpture is in its natural setting: here the aluminum casting takes on the natural colors in the landscape : one of mud, wood, leaves but resiliently standing up against the wear of life. Installation in the creek by Senior Caleb Fletcher.

The Bronze casting is cleaned and sandblasted before the patina process. This way the chemical can react just to the metal. It is important that there is no grease or other chemicals on the surface before you start.

 Make sure you are set up under a vent hood or in a well ventilated area.

 

For this heat patina: Senior Casey Duer applies several coats, starting with liver of sulphide, then ferric nitrate, both with a spray bottle. Then on top of that he carefully applies cupric nitrate with a brush to create a dappling affect.

Peter Leone, brass centrifugal casting

Hannah Crowl : 'Acuputure' Cast Iron and copper pins

Applying a patina to work can add context, color, enhance texture and meaning. It can add character and history, it can make an object appear more precious, ornate and delicate. 

 

A great example of a natural patina can be seen on the Statue of Liberty. The beautiful green color is the result of decades of air and moisture reacting with the copper. A natural patina usually develops over a man-made patina that was applied by the artist during the casting process.

Patinas are traditionally applied with brushes or a spray bottle where the sculpture is heated to 200f heat, but patinas can be applied in various ways : such as boiling, burying, painting, plating, and wrapping the sculpture with chemical, paint or other substances that will affect and change its color. . Once the desired color is achieved the sculpture is rinsed with cold water to stop the chemical reaction. Once the desired color is achieved two coats of wax or laquer are applied to the sculpture while it is still warm to seal the patina.

Different chemicals react with different metals to achieve different colors. One of the most common patinas on broonze is Liver of Sulfur (potash) which results in a golden-brown to almost black color. Other chemicals include Ferric Nitrate (golds, browns and reds) and Cupric Nitrate (greens and blues). They can also be used in layers to achieve a variety of artistic effects.

Follow this link : Silver Nitrate Patina  Where you will see a complex patina application using high temperature red enamel engine paint, silver nitrate and soot.  For further research and tutorials visit the Sculpt Nouveau You Tube Channel.

Working Hard

Students of the National Casting Center Foundry making repairs to the cupolette “Mothra” which will be used  at the iron casting workshop during the 2013 International Sculpture Symposium in Miami Florida.

MEET OUR FOUNDRY TECH LUKE VOYTAS !

Say Hi to Luke our Foundry Tech here at the National Casting Center Foundry. He's been busy keeping things sorted at the Foundry and doing a great job !  He has already successfully led at least 6 pours this semester .. remember he likes cookies then your guaranteed that the metal will keep flowing and the shell spinning.

Alzheimer's Glass and Iron from Alfred University to Salem Art Works

In late August, 2013 painting sessions with elderly suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia were held in Washington County, NY and Bennington, Vermont. Jacqueline Dillon, Elise Betrus and Rosemarie Oakman facilitated the events working wit...h the individuals and using iron oxide pigments to create unique and expressive paintings. These paintings were then distributed to several artists at Salem Art Works who will be casting a sculpture in response or homage. The sculptures will be created during the upcoming year in support of the Alzheimer's Iron project. The iron oxide paintings and iron sculptures will be partnered and shown together before the sculptures are auctioned off in Fall 2014. Proceeds once again will be going to the Alzheimer’s Association. The project will be returning to Salem Art Works next summer 2014 for an extended stay.

There are many ways to be involved with the Alzheimer's Glass and Iron project. If you are interested in painting with the elderly of Washington County, casting an Iron sculpture or would like to explore other ways to participate in the Salem Art Works Summer 2014 sessions, please e-mail Alzheimersiron@gmail.com

Save the date! You won't want to miss the Intercollegiate Iron Pour at Salem Art Works September 27th-29th. Join us as molds for the Alzheimer's Iron Project are poured! Come enjoy the great food, molten metal, amazing people, fire & fun!


Pictured: Yellow Skies at the Bennington Monument
Painting by Doris, Bennington VT.
Mold by Elise Betrus Alfred NYSee More