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The Official American Bronze Foundry Blog

Navy Seal - 9-foot-tall bronze sculpture

FORT PIERCE — When the 500-pound, 9-foot-tall, bronze sculpture of a modern Navy SEAL was placed atop its pedestal in the new memorial, Dave Godshall could almost say: “Mission accomplished.”

In the simple ceremony welcoming the sculpture to the National Navy UDT/SEAL Museum, retired Navy Capt. Michael Howard, museum director, hailed Godshall as the person who conceived the idea for the statue and then spurred five years of effort to build the memorial.
(read article & see video)

Bronze Plaques

Bronze Plaques describing one of the biggest events of the United States of America.
Follow this link: Bronze Plaques

TITUSVILLE, Fla. —
Apollo veterans unveiled a monument to the moon exploration era in Titusville

“It came out great,” Space Walk of Fame spokesperson Charlie Mars said. The monument is dedicated to the people who put the Apollo rocket on the moon.
Apollo veteran Bob Pearson worked tirelessly preparing the Apollo 11 astronauts for their voyage.

“I flew the simulator more than the astronauts did,” Pearson said.
The monument is part of the Space Walk of Fame along U.S. 1 in Titusville. It also includes similar monuments to the Mercury and Gemini eras of the 1960′s.
(watch the video)

Fine Art Casting

Process of Lost Wax Casting:

Rough Sculptor making: A creative artist makes an original sculptor or mold or an artwork by using raw material like wax, plaster of Paris or clay. A mixture of oil based clay and wax is preferred as these materials retain their softness.

Final Mold Making: A mold is then made as per the original sculptor. The mold is made up of two pieces and a key with shim is placed between the two pieces during construction so the mold can be put accurately back together. Molds are generally made using plaster or fiberglass or any other material that may be suitable. An inner mold of latex or vinyl or silicone is put pup preserve the details of the original art work. Generally, the original art work made of plaster mold cracks and breaks during the initial phase of deconstruction. Many a times, numerable molds are required to get the exact replica of the original art work.

Filling up the mold: Once the latex and plaster mold is complete and finished, molten wax is poured into the mold till it gets an even coating all around the mold. The thickness of the wax coating is around 1/8 inch. This process is then repeated until the desired thickness is achieved.

Removal of wax replica: The hollow wax replica of the original art work is then removed from the mold. The original mold can be used for making more wax replicas, but due to the wear and tear of the original mold the reuse of the mold is limited.

Softening: Each wax mold is then chased or softened using heated metal tools. The metal tools are rubbed around portions that show cracks or the joining line of the mold, where the pieces have come together. Separately molded wax pieces are then heated and attached. The finished mold is then dressed in order to hide any imperfections. The final piece then looks like a bronze sculpture.

Making paths for molten bronze: It is also known as “spuring”, in short the wax copy is then branched with treelike wax, so that the molten bronze reaches the right parts and also it helps the air to escape. The critical and careful spuring begins from the top of the wax copy. The top of the copy is attached to by wax cylinders to different points on the wax copy.

Slurry, burnout, testing, pouring, release, metal-chasing, and painting are the final steps in the process of Lost Wax Casting.

Lost Wax

There is no accurate record of when the lost wax method of casting was first utilized.

It is believed the earliest users of the lost wax method began with a clay core roughly the shape of the subject to be sculpted. This core was covered with wax, and then sculpted to the finished form. Once the wax hardened it was covered with clay. The object was baked, hardening the clay and melting the wax. Because the wax method melted out the bottom of the baking receptacle or oven, it was unusable or lost – hence the process is called “Lost Wax”. The space evacuated by the wax was then filled with molten bronze. Once the bronze cooled and hardened, the clay was removed and the remaining bronze – cleaned and polished.

Other names for the process include “lost mould,” which recognizes that other materials besides wax can be used, including but not limited to: tallow, resin, tar, and textile; and “waste wax process” or “waste mould casting”, because the mould is destroyed to unveil the cast item. Casts can be made of the wax model itself, the direct method; or of a wax copy of a model that need not be of wax. Archeologists have found castings – thousands of years old. The basic principle of the process has remained unchanged, although many new techniques have been developed. The most significant of which was the use of molds from which many waxes could be made and the ceramic shell process gave a high quality casting.

Manolo Valdés Sculpture

A row of Spanish sculptures is adding some flair to Upper Manhattan.

Sixteen bronze sculptures by Spanish artist Manolo Valdés are lining Broadway from Columbus Circle to 166th Street, the last of which is being put in place today.

The project is being sponsored by the Broadway Mall Association, along with the city’s Parks and Transportation Departments. Each sculpture will also include cell phone numbers to call to find out more about the work.

Valdés has had sculptures on display on Park Avenue, in Bryant Park, and in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The sculptures will be on display through January 23rd.

Bradenton Florida

Are you looking for a change of scenery, a community filled with artists selling their wares in a quaint main street district, a place where you could affordably live just a few steps away from lively art festivals, cultural attractions and theater? Then there’s good news for you.

BRADENTON FLORIDA
What makes it special: Celebrating its seventh birthday, the Village of the Arts, with help of the city, a handful of artists and the Village’s nonprofit organization, the Artists’ Guild of Manatee, set out to create a community where artists of all disciplines could live and work. Forty artists later, the Village is well on its way. With monthly art walks that fill the streets with art lovers, loads of special events, outdoor movie nights, gourmet food and a location just minutes from the beach, this is the Gulf Coast’s largest artist community in one of Florida’s most culturally-rich areas. Attracting a variety of artists, including those middle agers in the midst of career changes to fine arts, this focused arts district is full of burgeoning and established artists who passionately support one another’s careers.

What it offers: The city is providing artists who purchase property in specific areas of the district with up to $10,000 in matching renovation grants (1:1 match). There are also a variety of properties available with designated mixed-use zoning.
Web: www.villageofthearts.com

More cities coming soon!

SunFest 2010

SunFest 2010, a picturesque event where guests can enjoy music and art, featured well-known favorites like ZZ Top, Patti LaBelle, REO Speedwagon, Smashmouth, Sister Hazel and rising favorites like Ben Harper, Cowboy Mouth, Flogging Molly and Nas. The festival celebrated its 28th year and is still going strong as an event that has been named Florida’s Top Festival in a survey done by Fodor’s Travel Guide.

The festival opened on the evening of April 28 featuring the popular group, Weezer along with several new music acts. The festival takes submission ideas for rising young acts from around the country to feature on New Music Night. It was a great night to discover new acts including We Are Scientists, Crash Kings, Constellations, These United States, and Gringo Star.

Beyond the music is the Juried Art & Craft Show which featured 165 artists and crafters. Each year the festival creates a commemorative print. Joseph LaPierre created this year’s piece. In 2009, this local artist from Palm Beach Gardens was chosen as SunFest’s President’s Choice Award winner in the Juried Fine Art & Craft show. LaPierre, who passed away in August of 2009, was considered a friend of SunFest, showcasing his work at SunFest shows, and supporting its fundraising efforts. Commemorative Prints are available at the SunFest store, located at 525 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, and online at sunfest.com.

The festival closed with a fireworks display. SunFest hosts one of the largest fireworks shows on the East Coast.

For more information visit SUNFEST 2010

Dog art show

Dog Days juried Art Show
Art Uptown invites you to celebrate summer in Sarasota with our 2nd Annual Dog Days Exhibition.

Show Dates: Tues., Aug 3 – Thurs., Aug. 26, 2010
Opening Reception: Fri., Aug 13, 2010 6-9pm

Receiving: Sat., July 31, 2010, 11 am – 2pm
Rejected work pick-up: Tues., Aug. 3, 11 am – 5pm

Final Pick-up: Fri., Aug 27, 2010, 11am – 5pm

Open to area artists 21 and over. All media 2D work, wired for hanging, plexiglas only- size limit 30″X30″ maximum

For more information, please go to: August Art Show

Hot Tomato

May 25, 2010 ArtServe together with sponsors Children’s Services Council of Broward and After Hours Pediatrics will launch the ground breaking exhibit entitled (InSIDE)/OUT!, Art as Healing Therapy. This Exhibit will highlight the importance of art therapy and reflect on the value of the arts in positively shaping the lives of all individuals.

Contact Information:
ArtServe

1350 East Sunrise Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Call the following telephone number to obtain application by mail or email
Phone: (954) 462-8190
Hours: 10am – 2pm

ELIGIBILITY:
InSIDE/OUT!, Art as Healing Therapy is open to ArtServe Members, the general public, students and invited guests.

CRITERIA:
This exhibit is designed to be a powerful form of self expression. It is a means of symbolic communication expressing emotions and conflicts. Art work entered for this exhibit should elicit an emotional response from the viewer. We ask that each artist provide a brief anecdote that lends itself as to how your artwork has served as a healing process. The anecdote may not exceed 500 words and is not necessary in order to participate.

MEDIA FOR GALLERY SHOW:
Open theme, open media. Artwork of any media will be accepted. Up to two 2D or 3D pieces of artwork or up to five pieces of jewelry may be entered. 2D artwork must be wired for hanging. Paintings may not exceed 60” wide x 60” tall. Jewelry must be tagged prior to intake with a description of each piece and the retail price already on the tag. The Committee has final acceptance of content. Selection for this show will be based upon space availability. The Curator has final say on placement of artwork!

ENTRY/FEES:
Free to members of ArtServe
$10 for students (with valid student ID)
$20 for members of visual arts groups in Broward County (with valid membership card)
$35 for non-members

SALE OF ARTWORK:
Artwork displayed in the ArtServe/JM Family Enterprises Gallery will be available for purchase. Please note: the standard 25% mark up will apply. A portion of this mark up will be donated to the Haiti Relief Fund through Children’s Services Council of Broward.

INTAKE:
Intake for the gallery show is on Saturday, May 22, 2010. Intake location is at ArtServe at 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale.

Art by Nature

Premier recycled art exhibition to shed light on the importance of recycling in association with ArtCenter South Florida “Art By Nature,” a premier recycled art exhibition they will be holding at The Falls, one of the largest open-air shopping, dining and entertainment complexes in the United States.
Artists are invited to submit sketches of proposed outdoor sculptures, figures and monuments created with recyclable materials such as aluminum, glass, plastic bottles and more.

Please click on “Artist Submission Details” for information on how to take part in The Falls’ ‘Art By Nature’ event.

The Falls, one of the largest open-air shopping, dining and entertainment complexes in the United States, and ArtCenter South Florida are inviting artists to participate in “Art by Nature,” a juried art exhibition that will offer a way for artists to showcase their artistic talents using only recycled materials. This significant effort will shed light on the green movement and the importance of recycling.

Good luck!