Marquette metal artist Theresa Smith will be doing a residency at Michigan Legacy Art Park this September. Her 20-day residency will culminate at a public event on September 28 where she will pour a new iron sculpture created specifically for the park.
Creating a cast iron sculpture involves a special furnace heated to over 3,000 degrees and can be quite a spectacle. The public is invited to see the process in action at Crystal Mountain on September 28. Drop in between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Theresa’s passion for iron casting and dedication to the process was ignited in graduate school at the University of Minnesota, beginning a 22-year exploration of the material and process that has taken her to live and work in locations around the Midwest, New Orleans, Great Britain, Wales and New York. She has been involved in teaching and developing children’s arts programs and community projects through the years.
“Theresa was a great fit for Michigan Legacy Art Park’s artist-in-residence program because her work draws strongly from nature,” says Artistic Director Kaz McCue. “We are excited to have an artist from the Upper Peninsula contribute a piece to the park, and the addition of a cast iron sculpture can help diversify our collection. There is a rich history in Michigan with regard to the iron industry and it will be exciting to see her bring together this industrial process with her focus on nature. The iron pour will be an awesome process to see first-hand.”
In addition to developing her own piece for the Art Park, Theresa will also be doing in-school workshops with high school students at Brethren, Mesick, Kingsley, Frankfort and The Leelanau School. Students will have an opportunity to create their own scratch molds which will be poured at the event. The residency and in-school workshops are funded in part by a grant from the Aline Underhill Orten Foundation.
Visit the Art Park website for more details.Â
About Michigan Legacy Art Park: Michigan Legacy Art Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located on a 30-acre preserve leased by Crystal Mountain for $1 per year. Michigan Legacy Art Park features 50 outdoor sculptures that celebrate Michigan’s culture and history along nearly two miles of wooded hiking trails.
–Press release provided by Michigan Legacy Art Park