Introducing the Bronze Casting Residency:
So, 2 weeks ago exactly I was facing a selection panel of eminent Sculptors and funders presenting my candidacy for this residency, part of which was a plan to set up a residency blog to capture my experiences and the knowledge I will gain. The next day I got the phone call telling me they had chosen me – I had to make the lovely Lisa at the RBS repeat herself just to make sure I ‘had’ not ‘hadn’t’ been selected!
The next few hours were a rollercoaster of emotions from elation to worry and guilt as to how we were actually going to organise this: the main issue being my darling child who is not quite 2.
I am now settling into the job of organising the various elements of preparation for the residency between the other commitments I currently have and my broad categories are:
– Project (more of this later, but will involve enzymes so I need to find an enzymologist to collaborate with)
– Childcare (where, how, who…)
– Blog
– Italian (will be essential as the artigiani in the foundry speak little english)
– Going Admin (flights, accommodation etc)
– Being away Admin (like sub-letting studio, teaching commitments…)
This first blog post is a bit rushed as fitted in during a nap time, so to finish I will just add a bit more information about the Residency (currently I don’t know all that much more than was on the application form so this is mostly paraphrased and copy/pasted from that).
The residency is offered through the RBS (Royal British Society of Sculptors) and is only open to RBS members. I’m a member as I was awarded a Bursary by the RBS last year.
The aim is to enable a professional sculptor without previous experience of working in bronze to learn the technical aspects of the casting process, thus expanding their skills and developing their practice. The residency offers the successful candidate the opportunity to work alongside the artisans of the renowned Fonderia Artistica Mariani, developing an understanding of the lost wax process, from the creation of their own models in clay and wax to the finishing stages with chisel and patina.
This is a fully supported residency for three months from February 2010.
It includes:
• 2 return trips to and from Pietrasanta (from anywhere within Europe).
• Apartment rent, including utilities but not phone.
• Studio rent.
• Stipend of 800 euro per month for living expenses.
• Introduction to techniques of enlargement in clay, plaster casting, mould making and bronze casting.
• Casting of 2 small pieces produced during the residency and the cost of theircrating, packing and shipping of the said sculptures and models.
• Accompanied visits to other foundries & studios.
So… follow this blog over the next 6 months to see it all fit into place
