Press Release Submitted by Elwyn Ruud, Arts Coordinator
The sixth grade students at Roseau Elementary School spent the week of October 28th – November 1st, creating cast metal sculptures with Metal Artist, Sara Hanson. The residency was arranged with COMPAS. COMPAS programs are made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature.
Sara Hanson is a public artist and cast metal sculptor that brings accessible, customized and hands-on arts learning experiences to learners of all ages and skill levels. She has worked in many different community and classroom settings. Her portable sculpture foundry allowed students to engage in the entire cast metal process from start to finish to create individual pieces of art. Students created small sculptures and jewelry using the cast metal method. The process began with students designing their sculpture, then carving the shape into a piece of cuttlefish bone. After the carving was complete, students poured metal into the mold to create their sculpture. Some sculptures were made into jewelry.
Sara’s work has been exhibited at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, Walker Art Center, a TEDx Minneapolis event at the Cowles Center for the Arts, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and currently has installations at Lake Nokomis, Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, Midtown YWCA and several schools, businesses and organizations. Sara is also the owner of the WOW Metal Mobile Lab that shares art all over the metro area.
This residency activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
