Local artists heat up the summer with the Art on Fire festival

WASILLA — The 10th annual Art on Fire Festival, hosted by the Valley Arts Alliance, took place Saturday at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry.

Artists from all over the state, and even as far as New Mexico, attended the event to take part in this inexpensive form of iron pouring.

Each of the artists made a mold out of playground sand, then scrap metal is melted using a furnace that heats up to 3,000 degrees. Refined coal, also called coke, is used as the fuel. Then, after the metal is hot enough, it is poured into the molds.

Patrick Garley, a local artist dealing in bronze sculpture work, says a big part of the attraction is the fiery furnace and the liquid iron that is poured into the molds.

“It’s important because it’s a way for artists to do larger scale metal art at a reasonable cost,” he added.

The festival also hosted other attractions such as $10 scratch molds, which were blocks of sand that visitors would scratch designs into. The iron would then be poured into the mold to create a personalized tile.

Sandra Cook, owner of SL Cook Pottery and Fiber works, also set up a Raku pottery booth with premade ceramic pots for visitors to design and then take home after their pot had undergone the special Raku method of firing, which consisted of placing the vessel in a special mix of combustible materials to create a unique look.

Additional entertainment included wax painting with Judy Barns, blacksmithing demonstrations hosted by the Association of Alaskan Blacksmiths, belly dancing performances by the Sahara Storm Tribal Dance Troupe, and live music. Food booths were also set up by Gathering Grounds Café.