Los Alamos Daily Post: NMSA Offers Rare ‘Luted Crucible’ Casting Workshop
An ancient metal casting technique called ‘luted crucible.’ Courtesy/open-source-gallery.org
NMSA News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) is pleased to announce that its Visual Arts Department will be offering a rare glimpse into the ancient metal casting technique called “luted crucible” through a five-day workshop led by Guest Artist Piers Watson, of Le Village, Larroque, France, through Sept. 12.
The term “luted crucible” refers to the connecting or “luting” of two elements (in this case, the mould that contains the beeswax object to be cast and crucible that contains the metal).
Luted crucible casting is a pre-industrial, low tech/low cost casting technique largely unknown outside India and West Africa. M. Watson apprenticed with hereditary tribal metal casters in India for a month in 2008 and again in 2012, also for a month, and has spent over all eight years mastering the technique.
The full technique will be demonstrated in five stages to be held on-site at New Mexico School for the Arts for four days, with a final, all-day, firing and casting to be held in NMSA’s north parking lot Sept. 12.
The Guest Artist Program of NMSA annually brings exceptional opportunities for students to work with and learn from artists like M. Watson. NMSA is now accepting applications for school year 2015-2016. The application cycle closes in mid-January, and information on admission policies and the application process can be found on its web site, www.NMSchoolForTheArts.org.