At one point in your life, if you’re interested in art creation, you should take the time to attend an iron pour. Rarely do these public events occur due to the controlled environment needed to regulate safety of the artists and the attendees. But when they do the scene is dynamic and intense. We are lucky to have artists such as Ken Payne*, an internationally recognized sculptor, living and working here in Buffalo. When there is an iron pour, you are sure to find Ken involved with it, if not running the show. On April 21, at the Buffalo State College campus, Ken is hosting an event that will ultimately lead up to a northeast conference to be held in Buffalo From Ken:
We are going into our 22nd year of hosting iron pours at the college. In this once booming community of iron and steel it seems buffalo state has the only remaining grey iron foundry in the area. This spring’s pour on April 21, is really a precursor to activities in the November when Buffalo State will be host to the first Nor’easter Cast Iron Conference. This is a major event that will include a lecture by one of the icons of contemporary sculpture Ms. Beverly Pepper. Ms. Pepper has a long history with Buffalo, NY and the Albright-Knox Gallery. Other luminaries will include Jene Highstien and Jay Wholly. There will also be a multi-media performance with noted author Nor Hall and British artist Justine Johnson. The conference will include a night of pyrotechnic performance and three exhibitions.
This pour on Saturday April 21st will include an opportunity for community involvement. We will be selling pre-made blanks that are used for carving relief molds. These will produce a cast iron tile of approximately 6″x8″ for $15, slightly larger blocks may also be purchased for $20 and $30. Technical assistance will be available to help people with their carvings but it is suggested that people bring a sketch of what they plan to carve. They should also remember that any writing needs to be carved backward. This is indeed fun for the whole family and once the tiles are carved, people can watch them being poured and cooled and they can take them home right away. People should arrive in the morning. We will begin the process at 9:00am and complete the carvings by 3:00pm. The furnace will be lit at noon and hot metal should begin flowing at around 1:00pm. They need bring nothing but their ideas. We also encourage people who want to just come and watch. The proceeds from the tiles will help support the fall conference and extra money will go into student scholarships.
*About Ken Payne: Ken just completed an exhibition of his sculpture in Brooklyn and has several pieces in an exhibition at the Museum at Grounds For Sculpture in New Jersey. He is also scheduled to begin a granite carving for a sculpture park in Eastern Europe in May.