Tag Archives: Sculpture

MORE SCULPTURE CASTING

Mark Cowardin’s Bronze Casting Crew

Last week, I posted pics from Angelica Sandoval’s Aluminum Casting. This week, it’s BRONZE in Mark Cowardin’s class on NOVEMBER 10!  How do you know it’s bronze?

Preparations for BRONZE Casting
Preparations for BRONZE Casting; note the GREEN color of the flame indicates (MATERIAL/ CHEMISTRYGEEK ALERT!) that it’s Bronze.

Bronze is comprised of COPPER and TIN. Tin makes the copper harder, more durable as it was discovered many millenia ago during the Bronze Age. However,  it’s the Copper that gives the furnace flame it’s signature green hue.

The Crucible of liquid bronze is lifted from the furnace.
The Crucible of liquid bronze is lifted from the furnace.
Care has to be taken...this bronze is HOT STUFF.
Care has to be taken…this bronze is HOT STUFF.
img_6931
Cowardin supervises the students carrying the crucible (above) and instructs them on how it should be poured (Below)

img_6933

The Bronze pour Crew, with their teacher, Mark (far right)
The Bronze pour Crew, with their teacher, Mark Cowardin (far right)

Angelica Sandoval’s Awesome Sculpture Class Metal CASTING

Casting via the Ceramic Shell process

Photo credits: Barbara Sullivan

One of the truly exciting experiences for JCCC students in Sculpture is the casting process.

This intricate, multifold process starts with an idea, which then the student makes a “positive” of using microcrystalline wax. Once made, a wax “sprue” (channel for the metal) is attached. The entire solid piece of wax is then dipped multiple times into a silica slurry, which builds up a “ceramic shell” around the wax. After the shell has dried, it is fired and the wax is steamed/ melted out, leaving a void in which a metal is then poured, such as aluminum or bronze. The shell is then chipped away, leaving the “positive” metal piece, whereby the sprue is removed and the sculpture is cleaned.

_bjs8994
Angelica stands with her Sculpture students donning all the necessary safety gear in preparation for a “pour”.
_bjs8922
Before removing the crucible from the furnace, Angelica skims a mucky “slag” or waste from the top. Leaving dirty slag can cause ugly pitting in castings.
(Above) Angelica Sandoval and a student lift a crucible full of molten aluminum out of the furnace prior to casting.

 

copy-of-_bjs8965
(Above) Molten aluminum is carefully poured into the ceramic shells, which are packed in sand to prevent cracking.

 

copy-of-_bjs8936
The crucible is attached to a hoist/ crane which makes lifting the heavy crucible more manageable.

September 2, 2016- IT’S FIRST FRIDAY!!!!

It’s the End of the 2nd Week of the School semester here at JCCC.  It’s FIRST FRIDAY. Check out local happenings/ Openings here!

This First Friday

The Students have been busy on their first projects. We have some exciting News to share; JCCC’s Sculpture Program has been featured in the local TV news channel, KSHB 41 Action News. Each year the Sculpture students compete in a chance to get funded to make a sculpture project through JCCC’s Sustainability Program. The chosen students then create a piece out of recycled or renewable material that gets displayed on campus. We are so proud of our Sculpture students. The story showcases the latest exhibit:

http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/johnson-county-community-college-students-turn-trash-into-treasure

Students eagerly get going on first projects in Fine Arts!

IMG_6191
Drawing Students prepare to get a new challenging assignment in John Carroll’s class
Painting students engaged in critical discussions prior to an assignment
Painting students engaged in critical discussions prior to an assignment
Students sketching out ideas prior to painting
Students sketching out ideas prior to painting
The Sculpture Lab is already brimming with activity on a Friday morning!
The Sculpture Lab is already brimming with activity on a Friday morning!