Spartan Daily

SJSU Art and Metal Foundry provides students space to weld

foundry2011_2_BOmalley Senior art major Alex Olmedo matches his wax mold to an image on a smartphone for a project on Thursday, Sept. 8 2011 at the SJSU Art and Metal Foundry. Photo by Brian O'Malley / Spartan Daily

foundry2011_1_BOmalley Senior engineering major Will Slocumb attaches a wax safety measure to a mold at the Art Foundry on Thursday, Sept. 8 2011. Photo by Brian O'Malley / Spartan Daily

Alex Olmedo, Senior Art major Senior art major Alex Olmedo carves out the details on a portion of his wax mold on Thursday, Sept. 8 2011. Photo by Brian O'Malley / Spartan Daily

foundrySJSU2011_BOmalley SJSU art lecturer Ryan Carrington's finished aluminum cast hat is one of several pieces that he produces as part of his project. Carrington said that there is a small market for artwork like those he makes. Photo by Brian O'Malley / Spartan Daily

Foundry_LA_JJones SJSU Art and Metal Foundry technician and alumnus Steve Davis demonstrates to two students on how to use one of the welders at the foundry shop on Thursday, Sept. 8 2011. Photo by Jesse Jones / Spartan Daily

20111024_foundry_009_JJ Lecturer Ryan Carrington pours the remaining lead back into slots so the excess lead can be used for future projects in the class on Thursday, Sept. 8 2011. Photo by Jesse Jones / Spartan Daily

_MG_0428 Foundry technician Steve Davis (left) demonstrates proper welding techniques to junior studio art major Patrick Kingshill at the Art and Metal Foundry on Thursday, Sept 8 2011. Improper welding causes poor quality and fractures in the final products.

The molten glow of the melt furnaces seems to draw in artists like moths.

“You get to play with fire,” said Ryan Carrington, a lecturer at the art foundry, with an easy grin on his face. "We can be kiss ass in this place."

The foundry is the largest one west of the Mississippi and almost anything can be imagined and created here, he said.

With his high fives and jokes about getting set on fire, Carrington is more fervent about creation than work at the foundry.

“The best part of teaching is when someone welds for the first time, the wonder on their face,” he said.

Students start fabricating pieces the first day of class, he said.

“The foundry has a great community feeling,” alumna Julia Jacobson said. She said the mix of students and visiting artists adds to the creative experience.

Jacobson said she spends at least three hours a week at the foundry as part of a volunteer program. She said the program helps keep the foundry open longer so students can come in at different hours.

“We want to keep this thing going,” said sophomore Victor Perez, who plans to declare a spatial art major.

He said he sometimes shows up at the foundry before class to polish a piece he is working on.

"(The Foundry) is a gem in the art program," Carrington said.