#NCCCIAP

[ukfineartsresearch]

UK SA/VS students compete at national conference

By: Michaela Bowman

At the National Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art and Practices, a total of eight UK SA/VS students had nine or more artworks shown across three exhibitions. The exhibits included more than 200 pieces from artists all over the country with two pieces being juried by Professor of Sculpture Jeremy Colbert in the “Rare Few” exhibition. Students won two awards at the Student Coupla Contest as well as Hottest Metal and Best Crew.

Professor Colbert also presented his presentation “Safety Protocol, and Policies within the University” as well represented the University of Kentucky in “The Grind”, a recruitment event for students looking for graduate programs. In addition to the students in attendance, there were 15 UK alumni involved with the conference including Conference Co-Chair Andrew Marsh, Solo Exhibitionist for the Charles Hook Award Gerry Masse, and many others who taught workshops, presented, volunteered, panelists, and tours. 

The National Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art and Practices is a biennial convergence of students, educators, academics, and professionals dedicated to exploring and advancing cast iron as an art medium. Support from this conference helps the Metal Arts Program at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark preserve the history and knowledge integral to working with cast iron processes. In turn, Sloss Metal Arts provides opportunities that propagate and expand technical, aesthetic, and conceptual issues pertinent to the discipline. Collectively, this National Conference and Sloss Metal Arts create a magnetic field that helps hold the community together.

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

We're having a good time at #nccciap (at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark)

[christianbaileyceramics]

The smiling faces of some badass sculptors. These people make being in the iron tribe so awesome. The opportunity to see all of them again in one place was the highlight of the conference. #sloss #nccciap2019 @nccciap @eyer8arts @jdd1230 @bigbosssnakehips @jakimes @runningbull and #whoevericouldnttag #irontribe #femetal https://www.instagram.com/p/BwDXiD3AoMf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1x46ogr4rk7xr

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

Blowing glass with slag #nccciap (at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark)

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

Free BBQ #nccciap

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

Wakey wakey @nccciap #nccciap (at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark)

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

And Lucifer #nccciap @nccciap

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

The aftermath #nccciap @nccciap

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

Check out this guy @eequalsmchammer #nccciap

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

@castirongypsy #nccciap

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

This is one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed #nccciap

[jamlovellartblog-blog]

Panel: Iron Revival: Casting for Future Generations

Chair: Wes French

Panelists: Wes French, Toby Flores, Rich Stewart, Holly Kelly, Stacey Rather, Marjee Levine

In this panel discussion, the panelists discussed the future of iron casting for the visual arts in regards to engaging future generations to be involved and enthused about foundry work. They analyzed key ways that we can ensure that the tradition of iron casting not only continues, but thrives for generations to come.

This panel was the first refreshing discussion about casting iron. At SIUC, it is still thought of as a macho, pissing contest during our iron pours. We once had an iron pour where all women ran the floor, and it was the smoothest pour I had ever been a part of. It is not just because it was women running the floor, but because everyone was encouraging and trusted each other. Most things in life work better when people work together instead of tear each other down. This panel discussed how to establish the value of your department to your administration. For example, Marjee Levine brought more than 20 of her students to NCCCIAP this year. She talked about the fact that a significant portion of students are so interested in iron casting that they went to a week long conference, which makes it hard for her administration to shut her department because there is clearly a demand, there is drive, there is value, and there is a future in this community.

Community is something that did not seem to exist at SIUC. The neglect to come together and support other departments is detrimental to our future and our reputation at SIUC. Danny and I came in and made it our mission to build a stronger community in Art and Design, and we did just that. This panel ensured that we are doing the right thing by building a community that doesn’t exist. One panelist stated that in order to thrive in art, our departments need to build a community and keep it maintained by bringing people in often, whether that means bringing in visiting artists or recruiting for classes, interest needs to grow. A mobile foundry was mentioned, which sounded like a great idea for us to consider because it allows us to travel to people outside of academia or to schools where they may not have casting facilities. This generates more interest and gets the community more involved while allowing our community to grow. 

It is easy to generate interest in iron casting because people are like bugs to the light of the furnace. It is hot, it is bright, it is different and unusual to an outsider, and it is a lot of hard work. In the casting community, we like people who work hard, but hard work is more than just breaking iron and heavy lifting. We also need the patience to plan how to build our molds and make our patterns. We need to know what we are making and why it matters. We need to trust in everyone involved in the pour to know their jobs. Iron pours are like a performance on their own, which makes people want to get involved. The hard part is keeping them interested while teaching the laborious techniques that go in to the process before the pour.

One panelist mentioned that it is important to not stray away from the little things that get people excited and enthusiastic about your department. It is also important to remind the administration about your worth and know how to grow your community while you take as much as you give. For example, Marjee told the Foundry class that her students that are all coming to Sloss are funding her foundry because they are all enrolled in that class, so she asked them to pitch in to help afford to take the students to Sloss. The students show their passion and interest in this medium, which gives it a more promising future because it is students who can inflict change; their interest makes the change.