Pouring molten metal into scratch molds, 2018
The 2021 TSS (Tri State Sculptors) Conference is happening IN PERSON here at ClearWater Arts Center and Studios in Concord, NC! This is our first time hosting this annual event of this 43-year old association of Sculptors from NC, SC and VA. Registration is live, through the Tri State Sculptors Website; Single-day, Scratch Mold Workshop, or All-Weekend registrations /passes are available as well as Student Discounts.
DETAILED SCHEDULE PDF HERE! Also Online at the Tri State Sculptors page. Session Descriptions forthcoming… Some wonderful presentations, demonstrations and hands-on workshops have been proposed by members! UNC-Charlotte’s Sculpture and Ceramics departments are participating with a day of tours, demonstrations (a bronze pour, 3-D Printing, ceramic handwork…), talks and panel discussions on their campus on Friday, while concurrent sessions are ongoing at ClearWater!
The Iron Pour, on Friday evening will be open to the public for free viewing, you can do the Thursday all-day Scratch Mold workshop, with no registration necessary and just a small charge for the scratch mold; and it’s outdoors. To make a scratch mold to have a cast-iron piece of your own, simply buy a scratch mold block ($20 or $40) and use the tools provided to carve your own design at the outdoor work tables. The Iron Pour and Scratch Mold Workshops will be run by artist and blacksmith, Phillip Harrison of Penumbra Design Studio, assisted by Joe Bigley of the Western NC Sculpture Center, Marek Ranis, head of the Sculpture Dept. at UNC-Charlotte, and other foundry experts.. Some of the students he’s working with on his Global Diaspora Project may bring molds of their sculptures to be cast for that project, making the Pour more fun to watch!
NOTE: in order to register for the conference, whether the full 3-days or a single day, one must FIRST sign up for membership with Tri State Sculptors. The registration button (on Tri State’s Conference page) should cue this, automatically when it asks for your email address. Then, be sure to use the same email address to register as you used to become a member. If there’s any confusion, please email the Tri State President, Andi Steele at tssculptors@gmail.com; or just walk on at site, and we can register you there.
We are looking forward to a great in-person experience; reunion with friends, gathering again to share, learn, and celebrate all things sculpture. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we’ll have measures in place to help protect, for the enjoyment of everyone. Meals will be handled with Food Trucks or offsite; Tri State will require masks for all indoor activities. If the weather is nice, ClearWater will have doors propped open.
Not a sculptor? Come anyway!
We invite the Concord/ Kannapolis, Charlotte and surrounding communities to come see what a bunch of Professional, Educating, and Amateur Sculptors can get up to (and have some fun observing/ making/ mingling)! The Public, artists from the area, and especially sculpture students are invited to attend and participate in sessions, presentations, workshops…
Award-winning Professional Artist, Duke University Professor, Stephen Hayes (2021 Keynote Speaker)
…and our Keynote Address by this year’s Keynote Speaker, NC Artist and Duke University Professor, Stephen Hayes!
We wrote about Stephen in our last E-Newsletter which you can see HERE.
Stephen will be presenting an engaging slideshow about his work and experiences, Saturday evening after the Member & Student Show Reception in ClearWater’s Main Gallery. There will be time for Q&A and talking with the artist.
And then, maybe an after-gathering at one of the breweries down the road at nearby Gibson Mill!
Our 2021 Annual Conference T-Shirt Design is done! Order one of these babies when you do conference registration and it will be waiting for you!
T-Shirt Design by Adam Adcock with help from Graphic Design students - Appalachian State University
Some pics from prior conferences…
Forging Demo, 2018
Tri State Member & Professor Austin Shephard with his sculpture, 2018
Forging demo/ workshop
Member artist demonstrating
Artist Talk / latest work & public art
Scratch molds made by attendees, waiting for metal pour (2016)
