Guest Furnaces
Stanley
Furnace Representatives:
Kevin Shunn, Ryan Lamfers, James Davis and UWG students
Crew Members and Affiliations:
UWG crew, Ted Uran (SCC), Toby Floris (FHSU), Danielle Robinson (FHSU) the FHSU crew, David Lobdell (NMHU), Alison Ouellette-Kirby & Noah Kirby (SIX-mile sculpture works) and many friends from all over… it takes a village. Always and forever, Dan Hunt (KSU) Casey Westbrook, and Bryan Rasmussen!
We all recognize the significance of Sloss both to the history of the south and to all our artistic practices. I have heard others often say Sloss is like returning home and I must agree. In years of attending conferences, I deeply appreciate the heart and focus of a group of people that support a student-based learning environment, wherein younger artists can grow, experience new works and techniques and the wide array of processes we have within our practice. Home is the place where we get to witness others getting opportunities to take part in something new that changes their trajectory and life.
Chili Dog
Furnace Representatives:
Michael G. Williams, Nicholls State University
Crew Members and Affiliations:
Michael G. Williams (Nicholls), Cortnie Matthews (Nicholls), Jade Cunningham (Nicholls), Jordan Jones (Nicholls), Joe Boquet (Nicholls Alum), Gabrielle Dinger (Nicholls & Ole Miss Alum), Stacey Rathert (Ole Miss Alum), Jennifer Torres (Southern Miss), Nicole Scannell (Southern Miss), Mark Shoumake (L.S.U.), Cecelia Moseley (L.S.U.), Gillian Harper (L.S.U.), John Bohning (U.A.F.)
Chili Dog Is an 18” Colette that became a part of the Nicholls foundry in 2011. Since then it has had 17 burns, three of which have been at the NCCCIAP in 2013,2017,and 2019. It’s wonderful to be back in 2023 with a new group of students and share the NCCCIAP, Sloss Metal Arts, and of course the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. Chili Dog was inspired by a furnace designed and built by Patrick Garley and Scott Hamann from Palmer and Kenia Alaska. Small iron is hard to get Southern Louisiana. We use mostly old tubs, sinks, brake drums, and routers so, the Chili Dog is designed to EAT.
Apollo 11
Furnace Representatives:
Robbie Barber (Baylor University), Bill Raney (Baylor University), Greg Reuter (Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M Corpus Christi), Geoff Broderick (Abilene Christian University)
Crew Members and Affiliations:
Robbie Barber (Baylor University), Bill Raney (Baylor University), Greg Reuter (Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M Corpus Christi), Geoff Broderick (Abilene Christian University) With additional student/artist support
“Apollo 11” is presented by a team of Texas University Educators that includes Robbie Barber and Bill Raney from Baylor University, Greg Reuter (Professor Emeritus) from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Geoff Broderick from Abilene Christian University. We are committed to iron casting as a way of communication both visually and conceptually, and as a unique way to foster community, teamwork, and comradery. As educators, our goal is to expose people to the unique opportunities that iron casting offers. We invite the curious, the inquiring mind, and the bold, to join us on an intense journey of discovery.
FeNix
Furnace Representatives:
Brittany Clark and Tripp Jarvis (FeNix Iron Casting LLC)
Crew Members and Affiliations:
Brittany Clark (FeNix Iron Casting LLC, Cricket Forge), Tripp Jarvis (FeNix Iron Casting LLC, Josh’s Hope Foundation), Carl Billingsley, Jim Gallucci, James Dudley (Cricket Forge), Aaron Earley (Cricket Forge), Ella Snow (Cricket Forge), Emma Finnen (WNC Sculpture Center), Joe Bigley (WNC Sculpture Center), Kevin Vanek (UNCG) With additional student/artist support
North Carolina has a deep and growing love of cast iron. At around 12 pours per year, from various locations and organizations, we have grown a family of artists, volunteers, and friends that make our state unique in its active participation in the cast iron world. From the shoulders of giants, some still pouring, pour crews across North Carolina have come together to pour at SLOSS under FeNix, a triumphed NC furnace, to show our connection from mountains to ocean.
Radillac
Furnace Representatives:
Michael Ebeling (Three Fans Foundry)
Crew Members and Affiliations:
Michael Ebeling (Three Fans- Madison), Kelly Ludeking (KRL Metals -St Paul), Dave Arnold (Arnold Custom Builds- Milwaukee), Ed Gallagher (Iowa Alumni), Tobey Flores (FSHU Kansas) Rodney Hanson (XPArch Fine Art – Madison) With additional student/artist support
Three Fans Foundry is comprised of University of Iowa alumni who took part in the sculpture program between 1989 and 1993. The crew will operate a 12” tunnel continuous tap cupola designed by Professor Julius Schmidt and built by undergrad sculpture student Michael Ebeling in 1992. Julius would guide Michael on its first fire at the off campus pour floor known as “Radillac” on 4/25/1993. A year later, Michael would assemble Iowa graduates to run the furnace for a second time at the 2nd NCCCIA at Sloss Furnaces, without Julius backing them up. The furnace ran great, melting 760 lbs. of iron in just 38 minutes.
Now, Michael has once again reached out to Alumni for a 29-year reunion demonstration. The same cupola which ran at the 2nd National Conference is heading south once again. With new refractory, blower switch upgrades and teacup ladles, the team is excited to be a part of the 2023 Conference.
Spirit of '98
Furnace Representatives:
Jonathan Quick (Prof. Emeritus Ohio Wesleyan University, Alumni)
Crew Members and Affiliations:
Jon Quick (Professor Emeritus, Sculpture, OWU, MFA SUNY New Paltz, 1982), Kenneth Dipaola (Co-developer of the Spirit furnace, BFA, OWU 1995), Benjamin Quick (MFA Sculpture, SIU Carbondale 2022 (SIUC Foundry Technician 2019-2022) BFA, OWU 2015), Jonathan McBride (independent artist, BFA, OWU 2011), Leif Sayvets (OWU 2014), Gwen Kelling (SIU Carbondale MFA candidate, BFA, OWU 2016), Andrew Wilson (independent artist, MFA UC Berkeley, OWU 2013),
Tim Albon (independent artist, BFA, OWU 2011), Katie Henning (independent artist, BFA OWU 2007), Paige Hashman (artist and educator, BFA OWU 2021)
I am Jon Quick. I taught Sculpture at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1988-2022. I attended my first National Iron Conference in 1992. It inspired a fundamental component of my studio practice ever since. I built a cupolette furnace in 1992 at Ohio Wesleyan, and began a deep inquiry and media exploration that is a fundamental component of my studio practice. After attending the International Iron Bridge Conference in Coalbrookdale, England, my alumnus Ken DiPaola and I constructed the Spirit of ’98 furnace, which we will operate at Sloss this year. Joining me in this endeavor will be a group of artists who were my former undergraduate students at Ohio Wesleyan. They represent a generation of individuals whose lives have been enriched by the field of cast Iron art.
Slayer Quimby
Furnace Representatives:
Jam Rohr, Danny Rohr (Black Dog Metal Arts LLC)
Crew Members and Affiliations:
Jam Rohr (Black Dog Metal Arts LLC), Danny Rohr (Black Dog Metal Arts LLC) Laura Mullen-Vermilion, Kristen Tordella-Williams, Charlie Scott, With additional student/artist support
Born from the minds of Jam & Danny Rohr of Black Dog Metal Arts, the one known as Slayer Quimby boasts an inexhaustible thirst for the 26th proton. The Slayer features a hexagonal stack and a wind belt connected by tuyeres alone, creating a peculiar pact between presence and purpose. The 10-inch maw is an abaddon, impelling an addiction to coke, iron, and souls. Slayer Quimby’s hellish thirst for the holy metal is rivaled only by its impeccable visage. Pray there be enough iron on this mortal coil to sate the ferric lust of Slayer Quimby.