Fire

We participated in the glass workshop and were very pleased with our paperweights. The instructors did a great job, and we’d recommend it to anybody. My husband participated in the iron pour. The entire process was fascinating. With that event, it was especially interesting to see the variety in the many pieces. We’d definitely be interested in trying new techniques, and maybe doing these again.

Creating art with my own hands is way to relax and take time away from my hectic schedule. Working on the Fire Arts festival iron pour scratch tile was one of the more unique opportunities I have ever had in crafting at such and advance level. Participation was a way to experience a new artform that I otherwise, would not have had the skill, funding, or fortune to take part in on my own.

I was instantly intrigued upon learning of the opportunity to participate in the Iron Pour workshop and event that the art council was hosting. In the first part of the workshop we learned how to transfer our designs on to a “scratch tile”. There were experienced artists on hand to answer questions and offer suggestions on how to use the tools to create our designs. The second part of the workshop was the most exciting. We all got to learn the process of creating molten iron and watch the teams pour the red-hot iron into the molds that we had created for our designs. So, when I heard that the event was being offered the next year, my wife and I both created a piece and we had a blast!

The whole experience was fun and well organized. The kids had the best time designing their pictures and then watching them become permanent art. It was a great family experience.

Being in the studio working on my piece felt like out of this world. You zone into what you are doing. I kind of had to care about mistakes but Mr. Hargash showed me how to level it out with my tools. I learned that when the iron is being poured the parts that were deeper would be popping out. You can draw red lines on it to guide you. You can use different tools for textures. You can make anything you want! Anything. The feeling of watching yours being poured is so exciting.

As a mother, watching my child be so engaged in the creative process in such a unique medium was beyond words. Stephen guided him during the workshop, but Paulie had complete ownership over his ideas and process. He came in with sketches and watching his ideas come to life in the beauty and power of the elements was truly a surreal experience. I will never forget his amazement when he saw his piece being poured. It was pure wonder. The experience left a permanent mark of fascination on his creative spirit at the deepest level, one that he will always explore.