The Western Cast Iron Art Alliance, Incorporated is a 501 C3, non-profit organization and consists of iron casting artists in the western states that have existed since 2008 to educate, demonstrate and exhibit cast iron art in the region. This group of sculptors creatively focuses on a variety of art forms ranging from installation to performance works utilizing cast iron as their vocabulary.

The Western conference travels to a different location with each meeting. The conference is conceived to communicate, educate and celebrate while facilitating and inspiring art lovers to gain a better understanding and appreciation of cast iron as a sculpture medium. It allows a symposium of focused discussion on equipment design, mold building, and the endless connected experiences that are shared when practitioners convene. Casting iron has grown in popularity as a community has built up around the new found custom designed furnaces pioneered since the 1950’s. WCIAA seeks to link and celebrate the art and technology of casting iron.

All are welcome to attend the conference and we look forward to featuring the creative use of iron as a medium in these exhibitions which occur in conjunction with the 8th Biennial Conference, "Full Circle" at Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA

"Full Circle" Western Cast Iron Juried Exhibition 

Student

Artwork should include iron. Iron as sculpture, image, photograph, print, pigment, etc. Work can incorporate additional media and should express individual personal concept and celebrate craft, process and creative design.

Awards: Best of Show and WCIAA Board Members Award

*Open to conference participants currently enrolled in educational institution.

Images need to be no smaller than 1200 in one direction and 72dpi

Images must be labeled as follows:

Artist’s last name_student_1.jpg

"Full Circle" Western Cast Iron Juried Exhibition 

Professional

As mentors and leaders in the iron casting community the premise of this exhibition is to celebrate the vast range of approaches to creative expression using cast iron as a medium. Two dimensional and three-dimensional works with iron considered.

Awards: Best of Show and WCIAA Board Members Award

*Open to conference participants not currently enrolled in an educational institution.

 Images need to be no smaller than 1200 in one direction and 72dpi

Images must be labeled as follows:

Artist’s last name_professional_1.jpg

Application Requirements

Submission deadline August 25, 2024

Entry Fee: $25

Juror notification September 1, 2024

Shipped artwork arrives September 25, 2024

All hand delivered artwork due on Wednesday, September 25 (student & professional exhibition)

Exhibition opens to the public October 7, 2024

Exhibition Reception October 31st (Halloween – costumes expected)

All artwork collected Sunday, November 3, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm  

Up to three images of 1-3 works can be submitted total for the conference and must be labeled appropriately as follows and numbered accordingly: 

Artist’s last name_student_1.jpg

Artist’s last name_professional_1.jpg

If detail shots of the artwork are submitted, they should be labeled:

Artist’s last name_student_1_detail.jpg

Image details required:

Artist Name:

Current Educational Institution:

Artwork Title:

Media:

Dimensions:

Year:

Weight:

Hanging instructions:

Note: Works must be ready to hang. Provide specific specialty hardware if needed.

Specify install details: pedestal required, wall mounted, instructions, etc.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to Western Cast Iron Art Alliance "Full Circle" conference participants. 

8th Biennial WESTERN CAST IRON ART CONFERENCE 

El Cajon, California

OCTOBER 30th– November 3rd, 2024