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Alternative casting

Making sculpture is a serious business and this workshop addressed the basic techniques of alternative casting, otherwise known as direct foam casting, in a fun and engaging environment. Guest instructor, Robert Bielat, has had over 30 years of experience and is a well-known figure in the field of alternative metal casting. Students received hands-on experience in carving and preparing foam and other materials that were soon cast in aluminum. Many students were able to pour molten metal for their own sculptures!

Paper umbrellas were used to indicate where to pour the metal.

Instructor Robert Bielat demonstrates how to arrange the styrofoam "masters" prior to packing them in a mixture of bentonite clay and moistened sand

Here we see the molten aluminum being poured into the foundry with a little guidence from instructor Robert Bielat.

Students take turns "ramming" the clay and sand into the foundry boxes and around the styrofoam "masters".