Hot weekend planned at Wasilla museum

For the Frontiersman

WASILLA — Artists from across the country will come together in Wasilla on Saturday to cast unique iron sculptures, create Raku pottery and engage in other similar fiery events at the second-annual Valley Arts Alliance Art On Fire Iron Pour Art Fest.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the grounds of the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry will become a showcase for many genres of art. Cost is $10, and children under 12 are admitted free.

A team consisting of Pat Garley, who owns Arctic Fires Bronze in Palmer, D’jean Jawrunner, a college professor from New Mexico, Donnie Keen from Houston, Texas, and other local sculptors and skilled metal workers, will demonstrate the 5,000-year-old iron-casting process using a custom-designed furnace known as a “cupola.”

Scrap iron is loaded into the cupola, where temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit will quickly turn it into a pool of molten metal.

The artists and sculptors, dressed in fire-resistant suits of leather, will pour molten iron into molds created earlier by local and visiting artists at Garley’s workshop in Palmer. This cycle of heating and pouring will continue throughout the day.

At the same time, artist Karen Lopez, who owns Still Waters Pottery in Palmer, will be conducting her Raku pottery workshop on the museum grounds.

The creation of Raku pottery requires heat and smoke to create the unique patterns and designs. Lopez will provide each participant with a vessel or pot of fired and unglazed ceramic ware, known as bisque. Participants will then decorate their vessels with a variety of glazes and fire it in Lopez’s special Raku kiln.

Throughout the day and concurrently with the iron pour and Raku events, the Valley Arts Alliance has arranged for demonstrations of blacksmithing and glass blowing from other skilled local artists. Live music will also be provided.

For more information, visit valleyartsalliance.com.