All Over Albany

Intercollegiate Iron Pour 2016

Some events are more metal than others: The Intercollegiate Iron Pour will be back at Salem Art Works September 23-25. It's the 10th year for the event, which serves as a conference for college students and artists interested in the cast iron arts.

But it's also an opportunity for non-participants to gawk at, and learn more about, the craft. Blurbage (emphasis from the original):

Saturday, the morning begins with young and established artists preparing their molds, furnaces, and getting ready to pour metal. Early afternoon thru early evening visitors will see demonstrations on "dung molds", "cuttle bone casting", and "painting with iron", have the opportunity to make a mold of their own with family-friendly workshops options including "scratch blocks", "doodle bowls", and "cuttle bone castings". Metal will be poured in the late afternoon with live commentary from Iron Hostess Heather Spencer-Holmes to familiarize visitors with what is happening. An informational exhibition and Renegade Cast Iron art show will be in the Cary House Gallery and Barn III. Other activities include, a small anagama wood-fired kiln firing, glass blowing demonstrations, blacksmithing demonstrations, live silk-screen printing (bring your own items to have printed on, or purchase something new), as well as a display of hand made merchandise created by SAW artists, available for purchase.

Sunday morning artists will reveal what they made, divesting their molds with sludge hammers, chisels, and wire brushes, visitors who participated in a workshop can stop by to pick up their finished product.

The events are free to attend (though SAW would probably appreciate a donation while you're there). See the link above for a schedule.

Salem Art Works? SAW is a nonprofit art center and sculpture park, "dedicated to supporting both emerging and established artists in the creation of new and progressive work, as well as promoting the understanding and appreciation of contemporary art within the region." It's located in the hamlet of Salem in Washington County, a little more than an hour's drive from Albany.

photo via Salem Art Works