vincent comparetto.

Every medium has it's challenges, and some undoubtedly are more difficult than others. Some artists enjoy a process riddled with obstacles and almost seem to thrive in the more dangerous situations. Take for example working with molten Iron. Here in Denver we have an annual Iron Pour in the Rhino district. Pretty much anyone whose anyone from professors to sculptors who enjoy working with molten iron come out and share their exciting process with us.



















It's quite something to watch. I don't know much about it so I am going to be making some educated guesses. It's very much a team effort, and you get the sense that the medium is unpredictable and things are changing so fast that they quickly have to adapt to things overheating or cooling to quickly. It also appears to be way more out of control than it actually is. These guys are seasoned experts and all though all of there kilns and equipment seem fabricated in a kind of hap-hazard way everything is calculated, but it also seems any number of things could burst into flames at any moment. If a propane tank seems to be getting to hot they throw it in a bucket of water. They use styrofoam cups to regulate exhaust, they stab at solidfying metal with crowbars. If anyone is the true hells angel of the art world these folks are it.









The medium like any medium with an inherently difficult process is fading into history, the materials are tough to comb by and I imagine the kilns are pretty difficult to fabricate. It is supported by it's academic applications and a very tight knit global community (it is very much a gang) who travel around the world to various Iron pours and share there skills and materials openly. They wear patches and various faction affiliation brandings to their specific locations proudly on their fire proof leathers. It's very much a family. I couldn't help but yearn for that type of collaboration.



So the next time your complaining about a printers black saturation, or a slightly off miter cut, think of these guys they are seriously putting everything on the line for their art. Process is paramount.