About

In this class you’ll learn how to finish your casting as it came from the mold by safely removing all the unwanted gates, sprues, and runners. You’ll then finish the casting by grinding, machining if needed, texturing, and polishing to a desired finish.

Finishing the Casting is the third of three basic steps of the Foundry Art:

1.    Make the Pattern,
2.    Form the Mold and pour metal to create the Casting, and
3.    Finish the Casting

Details:

• Participants must wear natural fiber clothing, long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes (natural fiber or leather). No stretch fabrics, no hoodie ties, or dangling jewelry, bracelets that can get caught in machinery. Please tie long hair back. 
• Please click here for BARN's current COVID-19 health & safety protocols. 

• BARN is committed to accessibility. Tuition Assistance is available - click here to fill out the simple application before registering for a class. For those who might need physical assistance, please learn about BARN's Companion Program here.

Instructor Bios:

Jeff Oens - is a widely renowned sculptor with his bronze artwork exhibited in prominent art collections and public displays across the United States and Canada. Jeff is best known for his outstanding wildlife sculptures, but his portfolio also includes human figures, mythical creatures, and other diverse subjects, ranging in size from miniature to monumental. Many of Jeff’s sculptures can be seen around the industrial park on Three Tree Lane.

Frank Wurden - While getting his BS Electrical Engineering degree at University of Washington, Frank also obtained a BFA degree with emphasis in life drawing, sculpting and foundry art working with green sand, CO2 sand casting, investment casting, and ceramic shell casting. Sculpture materials were clay, foam, wood, or wax for the patterns, and casting in aluminum, bronze and stainless steel. Frank says it’s been many years since actually casting, so it’s great fun to get back into it! “I totally enjoy the entire process and look forward to helping other people do the same.”

Mario Oblak - Mario honed his passion for casting metal with BFA (UofW) and MFA (Rhode Island School of Design) degrees in Sculpture. Creating, designing and building in different materials and mediums is a joy, but working in liquid metal is “it” for him. Mario feels “Casting is a magical process that requires patience, skill, labor and teamwork, with the results both satisfying and permanent.” By sharing his knowledge and experience, Mario wants to help others explore, learn, and develop skills so they can see their ideas come to life.