Military Veterans' Workshops

Veterans’ Aluminum Casting—Dog Tags Workshop

(One-day workshop)
This program is offered from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on March 20, May 17, and August 4, 2022.

Designed as a social experience, the workshop is located in the Power House building at the Carrie Blast Furnaces and allows for enough physical distancing to keep you comfortable while you create your own unique 2-dimensional metal casting. Feel free to bring drinks and snacks (alcohol is permitted).

Rivers of Steel’s experienced metal-casting team will help you create your own design that’s cast in solid aluminum! The sand mold and tools are provided, you just carve your own design right into the pre-made mold, then take your casting home at the end of the night!

No experience is needed—just bring your creativity, a friend, and your own beverage!

Veterans’ Sculptural Aluminum Casting

(Three-day workshop)

This workshop will introduce the process used to create three-dimensional sculptural forms in cast aluminum—patternmaking, mold-making and casting. (Note: Finishing techniques are not covered.) The workshop includes instruction in the use of wax, plasticene (oil-based clay), and various other pattern materials. Most participants make their patterns from several pre-made forms we have in stock. These include vessels, utensils, door pulls, light switch covers, fabric, styrofoam etc. Workshop participants are able to customize their own design to these existing forms, making them unique, or build entirely from scratch using plasticene and wax-working techniques demonstrated during the workshop. Cast aluminum objects can be taken home at the end of the third day of the workshop.

Sculptural Aluminum Casting workshops include up to 10 lbs. of Aluminum, 100 lbs. of sand and corresponding chemical, waste removal and related foundry consumables. Additional sand and chemical needs beyond this allotted amount are available for $.30/lb. Additional metal stock is available at $3/lb.  All additional material fees are required upon pick up of the final castings at the end of the workshop period. Guest veterans will join members of the public for this unique workshop experience.

Evolution Art Studio

Evolution Art Studio is owned and operated by Jay Elias, a former United States Marine who served during the Gulf War era. Suffering from undiagnosed and untreated PTSD, he wound up on the wrong side of the law and eventually served a lengthy prison sentence. After many years of gradually declining mental health, he discovered the healing effects that art and the creative process can provide to promote both spiritual and emotional wellness. He created Evolution Art Studio to share this holistic approach to healing with other veterans and members of the community alike.