Portland Iron is proud to present its first ever community Iron Pour Demonstration, providing Portlanders access to and awareness of the art of iron casting. Organized by Ben Stagl and Caitlin Moore the pour will also include the expertise of visiting artist and veteran iron caster Dan Matheson.

The Portland Iron pour is modeled on an art making tradition of "iron pours" currently being upheld at colleges, conferences, and artists' studios around the nation and the world. Many institutions have built this art making process into their curiculum, holding pours annually and sending teams of students to iron conferences like the biennial International Conference on Cast Iron to take part in lectures, workshops, and compete in furnace building and operation. It is an active, diverse community with a fascinating process that only a few in Portland have ever taken part in. The Portland Iron pour is an opportunity for people to witness this fantastic aspect or contemporary art making first hand.

Community Involvement begins with a series of pattern making workshops on Aug 10th, 12th, and 13th at Watershed PDX (5040 SE Milwaukie, Portland, OR 97202). On the day of the pour there will be blank molds or scratch plates that will be cast for spectators to personalize and take home with them. And those who come to watch the pour will be treated to a crowd pleasing display of artistry and the awe-inspiring process of turning scrap metal into sculpture.