“The Liberty Arts Iron Pour, along with other similar events, serves as an opportunity for me to engage deeply with a tight-knit community of artists. On the pour floor, we foster a collaborative spirit, supporting one another regardless of whether one is an experienced or new caster.”
Durham, NC – Liberty Arts Artists Studio& Foundry presents the eighth annual Iron Pour, a free community artmaking event, on Saturday, November 16 at 4:00pm to 9:00pm in Durham Central Park. This year the exciting evening includes art making, art demos, fire spinning and batala drumming, Poetry Fox, art market vendors and more. Local food trucks and craft beer vendors will provide refreshments throughout the park.
About Iron Pour
Every November since 2016, Liberty Arts has hosted a free public arts expereince in Durham Central Park. More than 3,000 attendees are expected to watch teams of artists operate three furnaces that heat thousands of pounds of iron to unfathomable temperatures. Throughout the evening, pour masters, from UNCG, WNCSC and Durham Tech will create iron tiles designed during the scratch block workshops and sculptures made by various NC artists.
The Artists
“The purpose of this public event is to bring excitement and motivate everyone to immerse themselves in arts and the art-making processes.”
“This fiery spectacle is a lot more than a crowd pleaser. The Iron Pour is a rare chance to watch an intense artmaking process up close.”
Every November since 2016, Mike Waller and Tripp Jarvis have led and participated in this free community event and this year they assembled a group of talented visiting pour masters. One of the visiting pour masters is Allen Shelton with Mixxer Maker Space who says, “I learn so much from participating and see ways to contribute to the iron community's progress and preservation. Any successful iron artworks that I have created are rooted in the knowledge that the community passes along.” Learn more about the visiting pour masters and artists via the below button.
Events Highlights
Liberty Arts Education Tent
Artist Kirk Denny live painting demo
Iron Night Gallery + Market Opens
Shop Space forge demos
Lightship Neon glass bending demos
Poetry Fox Arrives, the city of Durham’s Poet Laureate
Creative Flame Fire Spinners
Batala Durham drumming performances
The 8th Annual Iron Pour is also part of the line-up for the Durham Art Council’s Art Walk and Holiday Market which starts on Saturday at 10:00am.
Admission to Iron Pour
Iron Pour is free and open to the public, though we highly encourage visitors to reserve an e-ticket through Event Brite. There are also plenty of free parking spaces available
8th Annual Iron Pour
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 4:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Durham Central Park
Support Western North Carolina Artists
A portion of proceeds will go to support Western North Carolina arts organizations through the North Carolina Arts Foundation. “Our hearts go out to artists in western North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene. We welcome displaced artists to come and use our studios here in Durham,” said Liberty Arts Board Member Leigh Hayes, who also teaches glassblowing.
Liberty Arts
Liberty Arts was founded in 2001, as a non-profit corporation dedicated to making art accessible to everyone. Our collective of artists have made some of the most iconic sculptures in Durham, the roster includes Major, the bronze bull who stands proudly at Durham’s Civic Plaza, who was created by Liberty Arts co-founder Mike Waller.
Liberty Arts believes that art practices, creative collaborations, and sustainable partnerships contributes to the overall well-being and fosters strong community connections in Durham and throughout The Triangle.
The Annual Iron Pour is our largest fundraising event, and your contribution allows us to provide year-round art education programming and exciting and free community events.