April 5, 2016
By Aleda Johnson
Iron is essential to humans in many ways, it is necessary in our diet, it is used in household appliances and also can allow us to express our creativity.
Wisconsin Makers Inc., and Theresa Lind, a UW-Whitewater lecturer in the area of sculpture, will be holding a community iron pour at 9 a.m. on April 9.
As a family-friendly designed event, everyone is welcome and able to participate. For $15 participants will be able to design their own 5×5 scratch mold and see their design come to form.
“The iron pour is an opportunity for students to make sculptures from recycled materials,” Lind said. “The sculptures come out cast iron, and students make anything from furniture parts, to abstract sculptures, to iron skillets.”
Ten to 15 UW-W art students will be assisting with the pour and making their own sculptures.
In the past, the pour has been a collaborative school effort with schools like Milwaukee School of Art and Design (MIAD). The event is being held off campus this year in efforts to increase local involvement.
This year, the partnership with Wisconsin Makers Inc. has gotten more area residents involved.
Wisconsin Makers Inc. is a community organization “dedicated to a collaborative and educational approach to creativity” that brings together creative types, according to their website. Their organization has a location called “The Makerspace” that is located at 200 E. Clay St. and hosts many art-inspired events throughout the year.
The Makerspace, is full of equipment that members can use to create and dabble in new art forms. There are different membership options for a cost that can be found on their website, whitewatermakerspace.org.
The space allows for UW-W faculty, staff and students to share their knowledge with and learn from the surrounding community. The iron pour is an opportunity for people with any skill level to get involved in something new.
Information regarding future events can be found on the Wisconsin Makers Inc. Facebook page or their website, wisconsinmakers.org.
