"Art On Fire", the Second Annual VAA Iron Pour Art Fest! 2009 Pictures!
Artists from across the contry came together in Wasilla on Saturday, June 27, 2009 to cast unique iron sculptures, create Raku pottery, and engage in other similar “fiery” events at the Second Annual Valley Arts Alliance “ART ON FIRE” Iron Pour Art Fest.
A team, consisting of Pat Garley, who owns Arctic Fires Bronze in Palmer, D’jean Jawrunner, a college professor from New Mexico, Donnie Keen, a commercial foundry owner from Houston, Texas, and other local sculptors and skilled metal workers, demonstrated the fascinating 5000 year old iron casting process using a custom designed furnace known as a “cupola”.
Scrap iron was loaded into the cupola, where temperatures of up to 3000 degrees quickly turned it into a pool of molten metal. The artists and sculptors, dressed in fire-resistant suits of leather, poured the molten iron into molds created earlierin the week by artists at Garley’s workshop in Palmer. This cycle of heating and pouring continued throughout the day. The photos shown here depict a few of the many team members in the process of creating sculptures during the 2009 VAA Art On Fire event. See more exciting photos of our 2009 Art on Fire event on our ARCHIVES PAGE.
At the same time, artist Karen Lopez, who owns “Still Waters Pottery” in Palmer, was conducting her Raku pottery workshop. The creation of Raku pottery requires both heat and smoke to create the unique patterns and designs. Karen will provide each participant with a vessel or pot of fired and unglazed ceramic ware, known as bisque. The participants decorated their vessel with a variety of glazes and “fired” it in Karen’s special Raku kiln.
After a short firing, the “red hot” vessel was placed inside a metal can full of combustible materials which was then sealed, a process that draws the oxygen out of the vessel and its glaze and is responsible for the unique and completely unpredictable Raku look. A short cold water bath set the color, and then the vessel was ready to take home and display. See photos of our April 2009 Raku Pottery Party on our ARCHIVES PAGE.
Throughout the day and concurrently with the iron pour and Raku events, the Valley Arts Alliance arranged for demonstrations of blacksmithing and glass blowing from other skilled local artists, an art exhibit "Barn and Beyond", as well as an exotic dance performance. Live music provided by Grover Neely, Phil White, and Time To Live.
This day was an extraordinary Iron Pour Art Fest in the Valley! The 3rd Annual VAA "Art On FIre" is planned for June 26, 2010.
What is "Second Saturday"?
On one day each month—the “Second Saturday” here in the Valley—we are encouraging local art galleries, restaurants, and retail businesses to join in with local and regional artists, sculptors, musicians, and food masters for a festive day of art and entertainment.
This concept has been adopted in a variety of locations throughout America, and provides a festive atmosphere for visitors to plan a day on the town and browse the many participating stores and venues. A bookstore could schedule a book signing; a coffee shop could schedule a poetry reading; a gallery could have an artist demonstrate; or a retail establishment could provide space for a musician to play. All on the same day of the month—the Second Saturday.
The Valley Arts Alliance is offering to coordinate the "Second Saturday" project. Just email us if you are willing to participate and we will attempt to match up artists and venues. It’s that easy! Join us in supporting the arts in our community, and in helping to make our art community grow.