UK Heating Up in Preparation for 23rd Iron Pour

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 25, 2016) — The heat is rising on campus again this October as the University of Kentucky School for Art and Visual Studies hosts its 23rd Iron Pour. UK's weeklong celebration of the metal arts will culminate with the Iron Pour on Oct. 29.

In this week leading up to the Iron Pour, several festivities are being presented, including mold-making workshops and a pair of lectures by visiting artist Bryan Massey Sr., of University of Central Arkansas. The mold-making workshops are being presented daily from 6-11 p.m. Oct. 24-28, at the Metal Arts Building. Massey will also deliver two lectures as part of his visit. The first lecture will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Metal Arts Research Room in the Metal Arts Building. His final artist talk will be held at noon Friday, Oct. 28, in the Bolivar Art Gallery at the School of Arts and Visual Studies Building. Both Massey lectures are free and open to the public. The festivities will culminate with the Iron Pour running 1 p.m. until dark Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Metal Arts Building.

In addition to the workshops and lectures, Massey will participate in classes and give critiques on student work as part of his residency at UK.

Massey is currently a professor of art and a sculptor at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. He is primarily a stone carver, but does work with iron and aluminum as well. He was selected for the state's Governor’s Award for the Individual Artist of the Year in 2006.

Demonstrating the most dramatic part of the metal-casting process, historically UK's iron pours attract a national audience of artists, students and art enthusiasts alike, with past attendees coming from as far as New Mexico to take part in the event. During this year's iron pour, art students from other disciplines and art enthusiasts from the community can purchase a scratch block and leave with their own pieces of art. The pour provides an opportunity for individuals to test their talents by etching an image in the resin tablets, having graphite applied and processed in the iron pour.

For artists looking to finish work, it is $40 to produce a mold up to 100 lbs. in sand and 30 lbs. in metal. Another $20 covers each additional 100 lbs. of sand or 30 lbs. of metal. Additionally, $20 covers a 6” x 6” scratch block relief sculpture, $15 dollars with a valid student ID, and $80 covers a 16” x 16” scratch block relief sculpture. Proceeds from the Iron Pour benefit the SCRAP Student Sculpture Club, who helps organize the festivities.

"We host this national caliber event to share the experience of an iron pour so audience members may take the practice and experience back home and apply it for themselves in their schools or communities," said Garry Bibbs, associate professor of sculpture.

To find out more about any of the events presented in conjunction UK's 23rd Iron Pour, contact Garry Bibbs by phone at 859-257-3719 or e-mail to garry.bibb@uky.edu.

The UK School of Art and Visual Studies, at the UK College of Fine Arts, is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of art studio, art history and visual studies and art education.