Liberty Arts Apprentice Blog

The way things are.

  • Jeff Israel
  • Tue 13th February 2007, 8:11 am

It has been a while since I wrote a blog entry. I have affirmatively proved I am not a 21st Century blogger, oh well.

So here is the skinny. I have poured a total of four pieces, two small and two large. I could not have done so with out the help and patience of two people Michael Waller the Foundry Manager and Jennifer Collins the Executive Manager. I have worked closely with both and I am proud to say that I am an apprentice at Liberty Arts. I have learned so much about the methods and practice of pouring bronze, mold making, the lost wax technique, among many other aspects of the art form. When I first started to work here at Liberty I had to try my best to wrap my head around all the different steps involved in the process of creating a finished bronze sculpture. All could not have been done with out Michael who was with me every step of the way, all ways willing to give me some advice and to kick some knowledge my way. He has no equal and it would be hard to find another person so willing to donate time and energy to the tasks at hand. We hold a variety of classes for the public and as many of the students will attest to, Michael is always there to help you during and outside of class.

And what about Jennifer? Well she is also one amazing person. I always see her working and trying to promote Liberty. There are many aspects of the office work that support the foundry. For one I always tell people Liberty is a non-profit artist casting facility and people always look puzzled. How does a non-profit foundry work? IsnŐt bronze expensive? Yes, and yes. It is Jennifer who is working so hard behind the scenes to create avenues for the classes we offer and also to create a buzz around the community. Keep it up Jennifer you are doing a fantastic job! It may demand a lot but I know you are strong and will be able to pull through in the end.

And me? Well I am nearly done with school so I have to get a job. I will never forget what it means to be an apprentice and will try and take the knowledge of the casting process to a new level. Soon enough I will be trying to find a Masters program in Fine Art, perhaps in sculpture, I am not sure. All I know is that I have been learning processes and creating pieces that will be with me for as long as I can tell. I also might be taking out a loan for the cost of some of the machinery needed to work in sculpture. This shit is not cheap do not be fooled there is a reason sculptures are a lot more expensive than a drawing or painting. The time it has taken me to create four bronze pieces I have amassed an army figure drawings and clay sculptures. Time, energy, patience, skill, and love are the four essentials of sculpting some of which I have learned, am learning and will continue to learn.

Thank you Liberty, Michael, and Jennifer for a magnificent experience I recommend it highly. (This may not be my last blog entry but you all know me and it very likely could be ; ).

Moldation of the very large leaf.

  • Jeff Israel
  • Wed 27th September 2006, 12:54 pm

We recently took a mold of an elephant ear plant leaf. It will become a very cool bird bath. I do not know if you have ever seen one of these leafs but they are friggin` huge. One leaf is about four feet long and three feet wide.

The mold was done in plaster and came out great, everyone will want one, I know I do.

it's going down...in the studio

  • Jeff Israel
  • Wed 27th September 2006, 12:48 pm

A lot has been going on here at Liberty Arts since the last time I wrote.

Back during Centerfest we held a raffle for a piece that Micheal Waller created. That went well, I think there were aroung 900 tickets sold! Go T.E.A.M. Liberty.

The piece mentioned above was also my first bronze pour. That was really exciting. It takes about four people to pour bronze. One person to direct the crane that lifts the crucible, which holds the molten bronze, out of the furnace. Two people to manuver the crucible over the molds and turn it to pour the bronze in the molds so that there is an even flow of metal throughout the mold. The last person, usually the one with the least experiance, skims the top layer of molten bronze when the metal is lifted out of the furnace to get rid of the scum or film that forms due to oxygen. Than the same person makes sure that the pour runs smoothly. He/she has a long stick with a flattened spoon-like metal piece at the tip and uses this to keep any "boats" of bronze that did not melt out of the stream. The left over bronze, if there is any, is poured into ingets that have been heated up and are at the ready so the bronze does not begin to "freeze" inside the crucible. And the ingets make for easy reuse.

The actual pour takes about 2 hours from heating the bronze to the end of the pour. than you have to wait an hour or so to break the bronze out of the sand mold.


Keep on keepin on

  • Jeff Israel
  • Sun 3rd September 2006, 10:48 am

I am slowly but surely get towards making my first sculpture in bronze. I am using wax and sand to create sketches. As many of you have seen there is an extensive variety of tools and materials in the studio to make your pieces. Here at Liberty Arts you are only limited by your imagination and that can be cumbersome at times, especially if your mind runs around at a marathon pace of thoughts and ideas.