UNF Sculpture: Iron Pour

Rock star humans of UNF Sculpture hosted an Iron Pour a few weeks back on the University of North Florida's campus. Hundreds of pounds of cast iron was poured into molds made by students, faculty and community supporters (like me!). They were dressed in leathers in the hot hot sun, moving hot hot metal. Being in an environment like an iron pour (even though I was just watching) where everyone needs to help and watch out for each other all in order to pull of this massive art making endeavor, is truly amazing.

To give you a bit more of a visual, you better bet I took pictures! It's just so darn neat!

So, I decided, "Yes, of course I want to make a scratch block and contribute to this awesome program." I got a rectangular scratch block, and then gathered around any hard pointy, scoopy, flat "tools" I had around the house. Predominately, I used a tool for scooping designs out of plastic clay and a dremel bit. But I also had some butter knives and a nail/screw or two.

Transporting the blocks (I got three, one for me and two for my friends) in the box, saved my car from some sand, and made it easier to handle - sand can get heavy!

After I 'scratched' in my design into the sand/epoxy/resin block.

After it the cast iron solidified and any sharp corner bits were removed by UNF students (thanks!) Ironically enough, for my friends I remembered to remind them that everything they made would come out mirror image (so they needed to write letters backwards) but I forgot the same goes for pictures, but I think it looks pretty darn neat anyways. 

My inspiration, the USS New York. 

For images of the pour itself, click on ahead!

"We've got iron!"

Pouring the cast iron into the molds.

A whole load of work by students, faculty and staff. 

Two people carry the ladle (?) and other people are assigned to help give them directions to move or follow them with shovels of sand for fire. 

After the student molds were all full, they started to work on the scratch blocks!

My freshly cooled and semi-rinsed piece! I was so excited to get to see how it turned out!

The plaque style ones my friends made. So purdy and meaningful to them. 

Thank you UNF Sculpture for that great experience, looking forward to the next one! Check these links for more information about UNF Sculpture program or their instagram.