Fierce: Women in Iron
Prairie Center for the Arts, East Peoria, Illinois
juried by Kristen Tordella-Williams and Jam Lovell
November 1-30, 2019

Fierce: Women in Iron showcases female-identified contemporary artists working in iron and is an extension of the all-women iron pour taking place on November, 2, 2019 as part of the Citywide Celebration of Women in the Arts.

This exhibition features artwork that incorporates iron, a historically industrial and tough material, created by women identified artists from across the nation. A dedicated community of artists cast iron outside of commercial or fine art foundries; these individuals tap into a 5,000 year old ritual. Since the 60s, the iron community has included women and men working together to build furnaces, break iron and coke (unrefined coal), make molds, and perform the dirty, physical labor to craft the sculptures and artworks out of iron, our beloved shared medium.

The iron community is a tight knit family of individuals who support and educate each other in spaces where everyone is welcome as long as they work hard and contribute. The cast iron community embodies the optimism we need to unify and grow. The American studio cast iron movement began in the 60s and women have been involved since the beginning either mentoring men or vice versa. There is a beautiful fluidity of learning through making in iron and the iron community is a shining example of how we all can thrive together outside of a male-dominated culture. One hundred years ago, women would never have been able to participate in an iron pour. Fierce: Women in Iron focuses on female identified artists working with iron to celebrate our transition over the past one hundred years from objectification, to taking control of our likenesses, to now being experts of our craft from top to bottom.

My artwork selected to be in this exhibition:

Tighten Your Belt: Ranch, 2019
Cast Iron, Styrofoam, artificial turf, steel, and adhesive
29"x27"x27"