February 27, 2017
Mesalands Community College will host the 19th Annual Iron Pour on March 6-11, 2017,
9 am-9 pm. Approximately 40 students from across the nation will be participating in this year’s event. During the one-week course, students create sculptures and translate them into cast iron pieces of art at the Mesalands foundry. The College has scheduled various activities throughout the week to celebrate this exciting event.
“We are very excited to have the community join us and take part in all of the Iron Pour activities. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring artists from all over the country to experience Tucumcari and what makes us special,” said D’Jean Jawrunner, Fine Arts Faculty at Mesalands. “It’s also nice to share what we have with others. This is just another opportunity to make Tucumcari a destination.”
On Tuesday, March 7 will be the Henry Gonzales Memorial Art Exhibition and slideshow presentation at 6:30 pm in the Great Room. Sculptures created by Mesalands students during prior iron pours will be on display, and throughout the week in the Mesalands Library. Live music will also be provided by Jill Cohn.
On Wednesday, March 8 the Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory will be offering free admission from 10 am-6 pm. The community will have the opportunity to see the world’s largest collection of life-sized bronze fossils which were created at the Mesalands foundry. Guided tours will be provided from 1-3 pm. The Museum is located at 222 East Laughlin Street.
Come and “Meet the Iron Pour Artists” on Thursday, March 9 from 2-4 pm in the Mesalands foundry. Attendees will have a chance to create their own custom iron tiles for $15. Proceeds to benefit the Hot Metal Club at Mesalands. Tiles will be poured on Friday.
Last but not least, the opening ceremony for the actual pouring of the cast iron will begin at
12 pm on Friday, March 10 and the pour will follow.
