News & Observer: Artists work molten magic in Durham Central Park

“It’s not every public art event that comes with its own hose and fire extinguisher.

But Durham’s public iron pour Friday night wasn’t an ordinary public art event, as hundreds gathered in Durham Central Park to watch a Kevlar-coated, safety-goggled militia turn solid metal into liquid.

And while they weren’t forging swords or that tricked-out chair from “Games of Thrones,” it was still otherwordly.

Or in a word: primal.”

— MARK SCHULTZ

Mark Schultz with the News & Observer came to our iron pour in Durham Central Park Friday night and wrote this amazing article: check it out!

Liberty Arts Moves Again

Liberty Arts Sculpture Studio and Foundry is expanding its services and moving to a larger facility that it hopes will become its permanent home.

By mid-September Liberty Arts’ sculpture studio will be located at 918 Pearl Street in the Cleveland-Holloway neighborhood of East Durham, in the space previously occupied by Triangle Brewing Company near SEEDS and Counter Culture Coffee.  Our foundry will remain at its current Durham Central Park location on Foster Street.

Following the collapse of the Liberty Warehouse roof in 2011, Liberty Artists have been working out of the Cordoba Center behind Golden Belt.

“We are thrilled to be moving to a much larger space at Pearl Street," said Diane Amato, co-president of the Liberty Arts Board.  "This will allow us to increase the number of artists, showcase their art, and at the same time enable us to expand our sculpture arts education programs which will now include glassblowing”.  

“The addition of glassblowing enhances our ‘Fire Arts’ brand”, says Leigh Hayes, co-president of the Board and a glass artist himself. “We believe the making of fine, hand-blown art glass deserves to be a more prominent part of the local art scene, and our new studio will attract world class glass artists to Durham while offering students and glass artists a state-of- the-art experience”.

Along with glassblowing, Liberty Arts will be adding more and diversified classes, as well as private instruction in welding, metal fabrication and casting, and wood turning.

Early next year, Liberty Arts also plans to offer hourly studio and equipment rentals to students and the public.  “Our students will now be able to practice what they’ve learned with expert craftspeople just steps away” points out Executive Director Nicholas Verna, “and knowledgeable home enthusiasts will have a resource for projects awaiting completion”. 

2016 Summer Intern, Mia Kaplan, "Sol" Opening Reception

"Spiraling Out"

"Layers"

Untitled

On Friday, August 12, Liberty Arts' 2016 summer sculpture intern, Mia Kaplan, had her opening reception for her show, "Sol." Mia joined Liberty Arts through this select internship and worked throughout the summer with our community of artists to produce unique work, culminating in this show. Her show included many pieces made over the summer including: A large floor piece "Spiraling Out" made of welded steel; Multiple items of jewelry including rings, necklaces, and pins, including "Identity" made of copper and enamel; A wall piece "Layers" made of copper, patina, and steel; Cast statuettes made of bronze and patina; A wooden jeweler's bench; Ceramic glazed mugs; and An artisan pipe.

Quote from the artist: "I am titling this show 'Sol' in honor of all the work I did in the heat of the summer."

Executive Director attends Duke Nonprofit Management Program

At the end of June, our executive director, Nick Verna, completed the Duke Intensive Track Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program. The program, one of the oldest in the country, has courses in board governance and development, planning and evaluation, grant writing and compliance, social enterprise, sustainable strategic planning, financial management, employment law, and human resource development. The program was held with 34 participants from different nonprofits all across the country with different backgrounds and experiences. Find more information about the program at: Duke

David S. Huber attends the 2016 Chicago Pipe Show

David S. Huber attended the 2016 Chicago Pipe Show for his fourth year exhibiting there, selling out for the second year in a row! He had the honor of meeting Lars Ivarsson and Nanna Ivarsson, the son and granddaughter of Sixten Ivarsson, the person who revolutionized pipe carving and whose work is the basis for every pipe maker working today. They were very impressed with his work and offered to help whenever they can. 

One special pipe was purchased by a famous pipe collector whose collection consists of a great many Ivarsson pipes as well as a few other iconic pipe makers. This individual is considered a 'litmus test' for high grade pipe carvers. David is thrilled to have one of his pieces in such a collection.

Liberty Arts Artist John Parkinson in Fine Woodworking Magazine

John Parkinson has written an article for Fine Woodworking Magazine which will be published in the fall. We will follow up with his article once published. Our artists bring an international spotlight to the work done in our studio with the wealth of knowledge they bring to their craft and those who practice it. Here we see John being photographed for his upcoming article, we are always extremely proud when our artists progress in their careers and are recognized outside of our studio for their mastery. Way to go John!!

Liberty Arts assists SEEDS

Liberty Arts helps add beauty to the Community Garden at the DIG Market Garden

SEEDS is a non-profit educational community garden in Durham that teaches respect for life, for the earth & for each other through gardening & growing food. Bronx native, long-term Durham resident, community activist, and artist Michelle Gonzales-Green was commissioned by SEEDS to add a gate to the community garden at the DIG (Durham Inner-City Gardeners) market garden. She teamed up with local Sculpture Studio & Foundry, Liberty Arts, to make that dream become reality.

This May, Michelle, assisted by high school seniors and SEEDS DIG employees Andresha McPhaul and Lawrence Fields, Jr. has been stopping by the Liberty Arts Studio at 923 Franklin Street. They have been plasma-cutting, welding and creating a large entrance gate that will soon be installed in the newly erected Cobb Wall that SEEDS recently added.

Michelle designed the gate, Andresha and Lawrence put their stamp on it.

Jackie MacLeod, metal artist at Liberty Arts, fabricated the metal frame to support the piece, and was on hand to help with advice.