John Ruppert: The University of Maryland

I am a sculptor and Full Professor in the Dept. of Art at the University of Maryland, College Park. We have a large capacity iron melting cupula that we use for casting sculptures. I would like to run a Regional Iron Pour and Invite students, faculty and artists from around the region to participate in a three-day event this fall. The event would be open to the general public for observation. The costs to run the furnace is significant. The Tour Dr Force fund would help subsidize the cost of expendables such as coke fuel, propane gas and furnace repair materials. The fund would also contribute to Revitalizing a historically significant and underrepresented art form. There is nothing like this cupula in the east coast and the Regional Iron Pour would offer a unique opportunity for the participants to participate in the process of melting iron and realizing their sculpture in one of the most primal and abundant metals on earth … iron.