Theresa Smith
2017 Artist In Residence
Marquette metal artist Theresa Smith will be doing a residency at the Art Park this September. Her work draws strongly from nature—and plant life in particular—for inspiration.
Theresa’s passion for iron casting and dedication to the process was ignited in graduate school at the University of Minnesota, beginning a twenty-two year exploration of the material and process that has taken her to live and work in locations around the Midwest, New Orleans, Great Britain, Wales and New York. She has been involved in teaching and developing children’s arts programs and community projects through the years.
Her 20-day residency will include in-school workshops for area students, developing her own piece for our collection drawn from the park’s forest home, and a public iron pour event on September 28.
This artist residency and iron pour event are generously underwritten by the Aline Underhill Orten Foundation.
Examples of Theresa’s Work
Artist Statement
My work primarily draws on forms and imagery observed in plant life, while exploring the physical and non-physical realm of our world. Integrating elements of growth, division, fusion and containment, I mainly create with clay and cast iron. Both materials involve processes integral to the work, mainly transformation through fire. These earth materials become new objects with new meanings; metamorphosis through heat and flame.
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- Theresa Smith demonstrates how her furnace works
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- The artist experimenting with molds in nature
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- Theresa Smith demonstrates how her furnace works
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- Theresa Smith teaches Brethren High School students about iron casting.
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- A ladle is used to transfer hot iron from the furnace into the molds
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- The iron is poured into the student’s scratch molds
