Rachel Allen
rallen19@uwyo.edu
In the spring of 2011, professor Ashley Carlisle created the Wyoming Sculpture Society (WSS), a group open to all members of the Laramie community who are interested in creating three-dimensional art.
“I created the sculpture society because sculpture is often a group activity due to the physical weight of labor needed to create in certain mediums like iron casting,” Carlisle said.
The preamble to the WSS’s constitution says, “In the belief that students have the right, as well as the obligation, to play a significant role in the artistic community of their university, we, the student body and artistic community of Wyoming, seek to provide an effective organization to promote the arts and specifically sculpture at the university.”
“The purpose of this organization is to encourage participation in the Wyoming art community as whole, as well as to involve and connect students and community members to the greater sculpture communities of the United States and beyond,” according to the WSS Collegiate Link page.
“You cannot do some processes alone, and a human bond forms while pouring metal or helping each other blacksmith a creation,” Carlisle said.
The WSS Collegiate Link page added, “These connections will help to promote diversity, education and artistic awareness amongst involved students and the community.”
Meetings are held Mondays at 7 p.m. at the University of Wyoming’s Visual Arts building.
“Sculpture Society is a way to learn about new materials and processes in sculpture with a really fun group of people.” Alexandra Blooding, the WSS Secretary, said, “I initially joined because of my interest in sculpture and my desire to learn more.”
“The Wyoming Sculpture Society fosters a love for three dimensional artwork in the form of gatherings, workshops, and exhibitions,” Carlisle said.
Carlisle said the ultimate goal of the WSS is to bring students and community members together so the practice of sculpture making is continued and appreciated.
Carlisle said she is open to feedback from WSS members and the community.
“I cannot teach all processes, techniques and materials every year so the WSS allows the students and community to direct what they want to learn and who they want to learn from, as we have visiting artists to join in on the conversation,” Carlisle said.
There is no set number of yearly events that the WSS participates in, but they are very dedicated to sharing and learning about artistic processes.
“WSS events vary each year depending on the students involved,” Carlisle said. “This year has been our most productive, as the students are fundraising to go to the Seattle in April 2016 to see the work of two artists: John Grade and Dale Chihuly.”
Chihuly works primarily with glass and creates unique contributions to the world of blown glass art.
According to Grade’s website, Grade creates large-scale sculptures that are exhibited internationally in museums, galleries and outdoors in urban spaces and nature. His projects are designed to change over time and often involve collaboration with large groups of people to build and install.
Grade’s work typically takes on a life of its own, not only in size much larger than the average human, but by representing the organic elements of the environment around it. The WSS will be speaking with both Grade and Chihuly about three-dimensional art.
“We had a booth at the farmers market and at the Laramie Arts Festival this past August.” Carlisle said.
Art pieces created by members may be sold, and the profits go to buying materials and field trips like the trip to Loveland to see the Bronze Services Fine Art Foundry this Thursday, and the highly anticipated excursion to Seattle next spring.
Funds are also provided by ASUW and other interested parties, according to the WSS constitution.
“WSS is open to anyone, but we have to cap members, as too many means less resources and less room to work,” Carlisle said. “Due to this we offer other opportunities to the public like making a tile during our annual iron pour. This even allows all ages to come and see molten metal get poured into art.”
Carlisle said that her favorite part of Sculpture Society is seeing the students get excited about new and fun processes and watching amazing work get made from that excitement.
