Sculpture

Graduate Program

MFA candidates are encouraged to develop individually and no one style, material or philosophy is emphasized.  Each year the Sculpture area welcomes two-three visiting artists.  Recent artists include Francis Bagley, Kevin Hachmeister, John Henry, Amy Hauft, Richard Hunt, Luis Jimenez, Marsha Pels, Cort Savage, Christina Schmigel Kevin Shunn, Lawson Smith, Linda Walsh, Tom Walsh, and Frances Whitehead.

Another important component of the program is the annual Sculpture on campus event that gives 12 students per year the opportunity to design and install outdoor sculpture throughout the SIUE campus. Students receive a stipend and the benefit of proposing, designing, and installing major sculptural works that are on view for a full year. Guest jurors award student prizes at the Sculpture on Campus banquet after the Fall Sculpture Walk.

The sculpture studio is generously equipped.  It features a Pillar solid-state induction melter that is capable of melting aluminum, bronze and iron.  The welding area features stick-arc, oxy-acetylene, MIG, TIG, a plasma arc cutter and an 80# German-made air hammer.  A two-ton overhead-motorized bridge crane as well as a motorized forklift also serves the foundry and welding area.  The mold making and investment area has a sand mixer, a ceramic shell mixer as well as standard investment capabilities including an Alpine burnout kiln.  These facilities are rounded out with two outside iron melters, a plaster room, wax working area (including a forty quart wax melter) and a well-equipped woodworking shop (housing a wood lathe, bandsaws, drill press, scroll saw, table saw, panel saw, miter saw, planer and joiner etc.).  In addition the Sculpture area has a 1500sq ft outdoor working area as well as individual graduate student spaces.

Throughout its history, the sculpture program at SIUE has produced quality professionals that work in a variety of fields including education, cultural institutions and foundries throughout the country.