Workshops
All workshops will be held at Fort Hays State University’s Rarick Hall Foundry, First floor. They are ongoing cumulative workshops that are designed to help you produce a work of original cast iron art. You may have never made a sculpture before, or may be a seasoned professional. Everyone is welcome!
- Wed. 23rd – 12 noon – 6 pm. (Please be in shop at noon)
- Thurs 24th – 8 am – 9 pm.
- Fri. 25th – 8 am – 6 pm. (last molding day!)
Be present at the beginning of each workshop session if you have questions or need assistance from the workshop artists.
FHSU will provide skilled foundry students during workshop hours that can assist the workshop artist and facilitate tool usage, maintenance, and general housekeeping.
Workshop Artists will have a set of safety requirements and helpful tips specific to the facility available as handouts at the beginning of the workshop.
If you are arriving to the conference early and want to get started making molds:
a) you must have prior mold-making experience, no individual help until 23rd.
b) you must meet the workshop artists at the Rarick Hall Foundry at 10 am either Monday 21st or Tuesday 22nd. You will be given safety/procedure handouts and a tour of the facility.
Sand Mold Workshop
with Brad Allen (assisted by FHSU students) 23st-25th:
Fees: $25 flat fee for workshop registration
$0.25 per pound of mold weight (weighed and paid before pour)
- This rate will include the cost of iron, coke, resin, sand, core wash, core paste, core wire, and talc. Fee will be paid in full before iron is poured into each mold.
- Each sand mold workshop participant will have to complete a mold sheet during the workshop that identifies paid in full, mold weight, iron weight, casting thickness, and any inclusions in the mold. Molds not displaying these sheets will not be poured at the production pour. For those conference goers bringing molds, you will need to check in with Brad at the workshop to get your mold sheet.
- This does NOT include: additional personal protective equipment such as respirators, safety glasses, pre-made patterns, wooden flasks, leather apparel, sand mold burnouts.
All Workshop Participants are responsible for their own mold waste and its disposal into the large dumpster in the Sculpture Yard driveway.
Contact Brad Allen at wciaa@hotmail.com with any questions regarding the workshop.
Ceramic Shell Workshop
with David Lobdell (assisted by FHSU students) —23nd-25th:
- This workshop can focus on building wax patterns, forming them into a sprue system, molding and burning out shells, or any portion of the processes herein. All experience levels are welcomed!
- The fee for this workshop is $2.75/lb after burnout. All weighing will be done by the workshop artist or designated assistants.
- Burnout Kiln will be operated by trained FHSU students/staff or event coordinators only.
- Burnout schedule (your deadline) will be provided by the workshop artist at the beginning of the workshop.
- All shells must be burned out by the last scheduled burnout slot.
- Workshop Coordinator will keep a log of Mold Sheets for all shells. You must have paid for your mold before it gets poured, no exceptions.
- All Workshop Participants are responsible for their own mold waste and its disposal into the large dumpster.
- Working with Silica brings with it many safety concerns. The workshop artist will have handouts available regarding safety procedures at FHSU’s facility.
-This workshop includes (if necessary): wax, sprues, soldering irons, torches, ceramic shell slurry, ceramic silica dry goods, nitrile gloves, and burnout facilities.
Contact David Lobdell at wciaa.hotmail.com with questions regarding the workshop.
Ship-A-Shell Program:
-Flying in? No room for molds or patterns? Try Ship-A-Shell!
-Send a message to wciaa.hotmail.com with “Ship-A-Shell” in the subject line. Include attached to this message 1-2 jpeg images of the wax pattern with or without sprues that you want to ship. We will give you an estimate as quickly as we can and you can ship your wax pattern to Kansas! Once received, trained foundry students will complete any part of the process necessary to have your mold ready to pour when you arrive!
-Given the individual nature of these molds, estimate pricing is the only option at this point.