A show of foundry patterns opened for a preview during the TypeCon conference this past July will be closing this Thursday, October 16 from 6-9pm. The handmade wooden foundry patterns from one of Buffalos defunct iron foundries that are on display will be for sale with all proceeds to benefit the Western NY Book Arts Collaborative.
The undeniable legacy of the steel industry that helped build Buffalo in the early 20th Century unfortunately also led to its decline towards the end of the century. During this decline, Buffalo also served as an incubator for an entire new generation of artists and a new “creative class”. The University at Buffalo in the late 1960s was a haven for the avant-garde. The low cost of living and diverse population has made Buffalo an attractive place for artists to cultivate their work ever since.
The process of casting objects in metal requires a pattern or replica of the object to be cast to form a cavity into material such as sand. Molten material will then be poured during the casting process. Patterns used in sand casting are made to exacting standards of construction so that they can last for a reasonable length of time and stand up to repeated casting. Patternmaking is a skilled trade that is related to the trades of tool and die making and moldmaking. It may also incorporate elements of fine woodworking. Patternmakers learn their skills through apprenticeships and trade schools over many years of experience. Although an engineer may help to design the pattern, it is usually a patternmaker who executes the design.
The anonymous craftsmen who produced these utilitarian objects may never have imagined an art exhibit showing this work, but in this setting, one can see the skill that went into making these unintentionally beautiful objects. On display as an exhibit for the WNY Book Arts Center, the two-part patterns can be seen as covers for conceptual sculptural books. They can also be seen with fresh eyes as historic relics reminding us of Buffalo’s past with a view towards Buffalo’s future. The concepts of what a book is and what art is, are clearly being challenged by this new downtown gallery and as they say: “Our future collaborations with existing cultural organizations will build upon an already dynamic landscape of what makes Buffalo’s quality of life unique and worth enhancing.”
The closing reception (open to the public) is at the WNYBAC building at 468 Washington St. Thursday Oct 16 from 6-9 PM.
Also on exhibit are printing presses and bindery equipment from various Buffalo printshops.
Support for Buffalo Rising comes from:
Support for Buffalo Rising comes from: