MCAD and the University of Minnesota's 50th Iron Pour

On May 3, 2019, faculty member Betsy Alwin's Casting and Mixed Media class joined the University of Minnesota for their 50th Annual Iron Pour. MCAD caught up with Alwin to learn more about the experience.

Talk a little bit about the University of Minnesota’s annual iron pour and how you became involved with it.

Tamsie Ringler invited MCAD to be a part of the 50th Anniversary University of Minnesota (UMN) Iron Pour. Since I was teaching Casting and Mixed Media this semester, it worked out well to be able to organize this into the class.

Sadly, after this semester the fate of the iron program at UMN is in question because they have severely cut the program, eliminating the full-time professor position after this year. So this was the last pour and it meant a great deal to all who were involved.

What is the process like for an iron pour? How can it be utilized in sculpture and other 3D art forms?

Casting hot metal is an involved process that requires many steps in preparation and teamwork. At MCAD, we have a foundry where we can cast bronze and aluminum. It’s hot, heavy work, and requires a team of four–five to pour. Iron is a little more involved and also heavier. There are a few more steps in the process of preparation. The molds are about the same work, but there’s more work in getting the foundry together for the pour.

Students from MCAD went several times over a month to UMN in order to “break iron,” hammering old radiators and iron objects into little bits that could be weighed and put into the furnace. The day of the pour, our students worked with students from UMN, national, and international visiting artists to prepare the foundry for casting. There was a great deal of work to do in wetting and spreading sand, breaking coke for the furnace, and getting molds set up for pouring. It was like a machine!

"The iron pour was an amazing opportunity unlike anything else I had ever participated in. The synergy of so many artists from all over working as a unit was enough to make the intense labor feel easy. Although the process is scientific and calculated, it truly feels magical."—Jay Lidberg, MCAD sculpture major

How do you think field trips/experiences like this benefit the class?

I try to schedule an outside field trip or casting event every time I teach this class. It helps students connect with the larger local art community and experience other techniques that are above and beyond our capabilities at MCAD. It is important and inspiring to see how professional artists are creating their work and making things happen.

The iron pour was fantastic because it was a large event that required a great deal of teamwork. So much in art practice can be solo in the studio and this underscores what can be done with a large team of artists all pitching in. In this, there had to be a great deal of communication, confidence, generosity, and innovation. All the artists and students involved were doing very different projects throughout the day employing surprisingly different approaches, from pouring different types of molds to public performance.

“The UMN iron pour was an experience that I will remember for a long time. Getting a chance to witness and work alongside hundreds of artists all working towards the same goal made me realize how profound of a bond casting can forge. None of us knew each other at the beginning of that day, but we all cried together at the foundry's final end.” —Adrian Rogers, MCAD sculpture major

What is your favorite medium to work with in your work?

I don’t have a favorite medium, as I generally work with what helps me convey the ideas that I want to communicate. I do use casting methods a great deal. In my current body of work, I have been researching and developing methods for casting ceramic slip, creating lace forms that I incorporate with other media in my sculptures.

What classes do you teach at MCAD?

I teach Foundations 3D, Casting and Mixed Media, Installation, and Fabricated Sculpture classes.

What did the students think of this field trip?

The students had a great time and it left a lasting impression. It’s funny how artists can have a great time working hard, as it is so rewarding to see the outcomes.

Two sophomores, Adrian Rogers and Jay Lidberg, are starting a casting club at MCAD. They will be working on some extra-curricular activities for foundry and off-site visits for club members!