Art departments at colleges and universities often conjure images of students quietly sketching or painting. Rarely does one picture a foundry, with blast furnaces and overhead cranes carrying crucibles of molten metal.
Yet the cast sculpture program in the Art and Design Department, under the direction and inspiration of sculpture professor Toby Flores, has become an integral part of an arts education at FHSU.
An increasing number of students participate in “iron pours” in five states throughout the Midwest, and FHSU is gaining the reputation of having one of the best cast sculpture programs available. FHSU students produce a higher quality of work and generate more work than comparable universities.
Students claim that casting molten metal and bronze is one of the most extraordinary experiences of their lives. Parents have driven hundreds of miles to watch their sons and daughters create these works of art.
Foundry work is inherently dangerous, and the safety of students is of primary concern. The current foundry space in Rarick Hall is limited. Proposed is an all-weather enclosure that would double the amount of space available for casting sculptures and various kinds of metal work. And, state-of-the-art safety equipment must be added.
Cast Sculpture Studio and Foundry Expansion
The current foundry breezeway is out of doors, making sculpture
work difficult in inclement weather. Once completed, the all-weather
enclosure will allow students access to the studio year-round instead
of on a limited seasonal basis.
This newly created space will house a much-needed bridge crane,
which can carry heavy metals throughout the foundry area. Also needed
is a new set of exterior doors that will allow for larger sculptures, and a
state-of-the-art ventilation system.
$165,000
Tools and Equipment
Inside the studio, new mechanical tools will be added such as a slip
roller, power hammer and iron worker. These tools are vital to the
intricate detail of sculptural metal work. They help alleviate the physically demanding and sometimes grueling effort required to work with metals.
The department also needs new fire suits and safety equipment.
Beyond the students’ work and education, the FHSU Art Department
continually strives to make art more accessible to the general public.
Cast sculpture, much of which is outdoor public art, adds greatly to humankind’s continual striving for inspiration and understanding.
