Iron pour at Grand Valley State University. Photo courtesy: Terrance

Cast Iron Intensive
Saturday, September 27 - Wednesday, October 1
10:00AM – 5:00PM Daily
Location: Grand Valley State University
Fee: $275 (includes 75 lbs of iron and 200 lbs of sodium silicate bonded sand)
Class Size: 5-12
Instructors: Daniel Matheson, Foundry Technician, School of the Art Institute Chicago; Norwood Viviano, Assistant Professor of Sculpture, Grand Valley State University, and Carolyn Ottmers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

This five-day intensive multi-level cast iron workshop will focus on iron casting using a traditional cupola furnace. The iron casting process and its sculptural applications will be explored through a series of individual projects culminating in an iron pour. Time will be spent generating patterns and molds, prepping for the iron pour, discussing furnace design and firing, and the relationship between the rich history of the Industrial Revolution and the more recent Cast Iron art studio movement.  The community-based process of casting iron is an exciting and labor-intensive experience. The workshop will be held at Grand Valley State University in conjunction with the International Sculpture Center Conference to explore iron casting as performance and spectacle in addition to necessary process. Sodium Silicate bonded sand molds are the main mold making technology. Some previous metal casting experience and /or mold making is recommended.  Lunch and transportation is not provided.
 

One Stitch After Another: Crochet as a Sculptural Practice
Wednesday October 1, 2008, Time: 9:00AM – 11:00AM
Location: Urban Institute For Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI
Instructor: Anna Campbell, Assistant Professor, Department of Art & Design at Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Capacity: 24
Fee: $70

Crochet offers object-makers a highly portable, culturally charged, economically accessible and uniquely plastic method of construction.  This workshop will include a review of contemporary crocheted sculptural work to introduce participants to the broad possibilities of the craft.  Participants will learn how to make single and double crochet stitches and how to add and decrease stitches.  Strategies concerning construction and media choice will also be addressed.  Crochet hooks and crochetable media will be provided.  For more information please contact events@sculpture.org.

Computer Aided Design workshop with Russ RuBert.
Wednesday, October 1, 12:00Noon – 3:00PM
Location: Urban Institute For Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI
Instructor: Russ RuBert, Artist, Springfield , MO
Capacity: 24
Fee: $95

The emphasis of this workshop is on the utilization of computers as a tool in the visualization and realization of publicly scaled sculpture. This workshop will focus on hollow form construction, with discussion of basic structural analysis, center of gravity location, unfolding of forms, outputting for CAM laser or water jet cutout, and site specific overlays of computer generated models to potential sculpture locations. Students should bring their own laptops for trial versions of software. A box lunch will be provided.

Three Artists – Three Approaches to working in Ceramics
Wednesday, October 1, 3:30PM – 6:30PM
Location: Urban Institute For Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI
Instructors: Israel Davis, Director of the Urban Clay Studio at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan. With Nate Tonning, UICA’s Art Preparator and Ceramic Artist and Stephanie Rozene, Artist.
Capacity: 25
Fee: $70

Three professional artists will discuss and demonstrate their unique and varied approaches to working in ceramics in this workshop consisting of a slide lecture and demonstration.  UICA’s Ceramics Program Director, Israel Davis, will demonstrate and discuss the interdisciplinary nature of screen-printing on clay, utilizing slips and under glazes.  UICA’s Art Preparator, and ceramic artist Nate Tonning, will demonstrate techniques on creating functional vessels and discuss how these objects relate to public art through their accessibility and presence in everyday life.  Stephanie Rozene will speak about the influence of decorative arts in contemporary ceramic work.  For more information please contact events@sculpture.org.