March Artist Spotlight: Cast Metal Maker Sara Hanson

Hi Sara, thanks so much for taking the time to tell us about your unique work. Can you tell us a little about your background and what art form you teach?

I am a public artist, sculptor and cast metal maker. I teach cast metal sculpture/object making within communities as a resident artist and with the WOW Mobile Metal Lab and Show, a city bus converted into a cast metal workshop. By bringing accessible cast metal experiences right into communities that enable individuals to participate in the entire process – from ideas, sculpting, mold-making, metal-pouring, metal finishing, and possibly installation – there is more investment, ownership and empowerment.

After attending MCAD for a year, I transferred to the U of MN and received my BFA with a focus on sculpture and foundry. With a curiosity for the creative process, societal norms and individual potential, I began my work as a sculpture instructor at Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, an adult day program for individuals with (dis)abilities. I recognized my appreciation of teaching, learning from and collaborating with individuals and groups. I became passionate about challenging society’s view of (dis)ability and exploring traditional/non-traditional art through process and fished pieces.

In 2005, I received a Forecast Public Art grant for the Interstellar Record Project – a cast metal residency with artists from Interact Center, public art installation and the creation of my first mobile foundry. After choosing music and sounds of life on earth for the golden record that was placed and launched on the Voyager Spacecraft in the 70’s, Carl Sagan and the team were unable to decide upon what visual art to include. Artists from Interact Center cast their visions in clay to create our interstellar record cast in metal – a record of visual art on earth – that is housed in a time-capsule cone structure and installed at Lake Nokomis for “unspecified recipients”.

This project ignited my spark for sharing the artwork of underrepresented individuals/communities to a broader audience through public art and teaching the cast metal process within communities and launched my career as a public artist and teacher.

I began fabricating metal sculpture and became aware of the limitations. As I began to understand the cast metal process and the idea that I could create anything that I envisioned in my mind’s eye, I fell in love with it. I was able to experiment, explore and discover again and again, as I still do. The possibilities, potential, physics and chemistry that are inherent in the process are endless and illusive, and seemingly magical. Creating something original that has not existed before and the transformation from a liquid to a solid in a new form continues to amaze me.

For those who don’t know, can you describe the process of metal casting?

There are different techniques and materials used in various cast metal processes from small to large scale and always require several steps. I teach lead-free pewter casting into cuttlefish bone, plaster and silicone to create small sculptures, jewelry, amulets/talismans, keychains, zipper-pulls, etc. This is a hands-on rewarding process with satisfying results for younger and older students with a shorter time frame. The pewter is melted indoors in a small pot at 400 degrees and the students are able to pour the metal into their own molds. They use metal cutting tools and hand files to clean and smooth their castings.

I also teach bronze/aluminum casting into sand molds to create sculpture, functional objects, individual and community public art. The student begins with the manipulation of plasticine clay - sculpting with additive/subtractive processes, assembly of found objects, using letter stamps, pulling textures from the physical environment of a community or space, or any other way to achieve meaningful impressions in and shapes of clay. The clay sculptures are temporary patterns used for the mold-making process that will be cast in metal.

Wood is screwed together to create a box frame, a flask that holds the sand in place over the pattern. Sand is mixed with glue either by many hands or a cement mixer and put directly on-top of the pattern. After 12 hours the sand and glue mixture become a solid and the clay pattern is removed. This is the negative space where the metal fills to create the metal casting.

I use a crucible furnace to pour aluminum/bronze into sand molds outdoors or on the bus. Elementary students watch as metal is poured into their molds and middle-school and older students learn how to operate a group metal pour. The students use hand files or power tools to clean and finish their castings. Surface treatments of alcohol inks or patina are used and the castings are sealed. The individual castings are included in an indoor exhibition, group installation or an outdoor public sculpture.

What do participants learn from doing cast metal sculpture?

In addition to the history of metal casting, participants gain a greater understanding of industry, manufacturing and how the objects in our daily lives are made. The process is laborious and time consuming and individuals gain an appreciation for how art and objects are made. It is empowering and promotes innovation when one creates something in metal that is aesthetically pleasing, has a form and/or function and can be used or worn. The process piques curiosity, provides opportunities for experimentation and the possibility of not achieving your desired outcome.

What do you gain from teaching that you don’t gain from creating your own work?

I am fascinated with individual creative processes, how one learns and specifically how one interprets the cast metal process. I learn about my own creative process and am inspired by learner’s understandings, questions and creations.

You recently worked with youth at the FamilyMeans after school program creating small sculptures, how did that go? Any exciting discoveries?

What a blast to be able to teach kids at a drop-in center how to cast metal!

These kids were fascinated by the idea that they were going to create an original design, carve it in cuttlebone, pour the metal there and have a metal object to take home.

They were excited to create whatever designs/imagery they wanted to.

Some appreciated that they could use their castings (jewelry, keychain) and some learned that they want to do more metal work in school and some appreciated their casting as a small sculpture artwork and were excited to share it with their parents. None of them had worked with metal and they appreciated the opportunity to be expressive with it and learn new skills.

You joined the COMPAS roster in 2018, what do see as benefits of being a COMPAS Teaching Artist?

I am thrilled to be working amongst passionate artists from different countries, various art forms and amazing talents. As a COMPAS roster artist, teachers have confidence in and appreciation for my abilities and talents. Setting and achieving high expectations brings a more efficient and successful experience with more room for creativity and fun!

How do you practice creativity in your everyday life?

I try to remain open to changing the way to approach or complete a task in any situation. How can I alter the process to make it more meaningful, expressive, efficient or what the situation needs? It is important to use knowledge, talents and strengths to question and remain curious about existing patterns, strategies and formulas.

Anything else you’d like us to know about your amazing career?

I’m looking forward to creating public art within rural communities in Minnesota and more here in the cities in the with the WOW Mobile Metal Lab and Show. I am filling up the calendar with year round metal casting at local museums, park and recreation centers, schools, organizations and businesses. Come and get on the bus for a cast metal workshop, class, public make + take event or private event!