University of Wyoming is hosting its very first Cast Iron Conference this week in the Visual Arts Building.
The Cast Iron Conference has been around for many years now, but has made its debut in University of Wyoming’s very own Visual Arts Building this year. This event takes place every two years and rotates location every year. Artists in the mid-western and western regions are featured in this year’s event at UW.
“I’m really, really excited about this event. I think that it’s going to be great for the University and visual arts department to have something different,” said student artist Korinne Thoren on behalf of the event. Thoren is exhibiting work in the conference show.
Another student artist in the conference Jon Young said there has never been anything like this at the university.
There are even two students from China attending the conference.
There is more to cast iron than meets the eye, said Thoren. Young and Thoren both said that working with cast iron is definitely something that you can’t do on your own.
“Working with cast iron is something that you kind of come across,” said Thoren. “You go to iron pours and see all of these people working together and there’s fire, sparks and you just know that you want to be a part of it. It’s amazing.”
Ashley Carlisle is in charge of the event and is even the reason some of the students are involved in this event.
“I got into working with cast iron through Ashley Carlisle,” said Young. “She really enjoys working with cast iron and definitely got me interested in the art of cast iron.”
Although Young discovered cast iron through Ashley Carlisle, he found his love for art by seeing art that spoke to him and having the need to make art that speaks to others. Young has reached this goal with his piece “Lost Lyrics” that is on display in the Visual Arts Building.
The Cast Iron Conference will be running from Sept. 24 to Sept. 28 in the Visual Arts Building.
