Call Description

Western Cast Iron Juried Exhibition-Professional/Student

Burris Hall Gallery, NMHU, Las Vegas, NM

September 1st– October 3rd, 2026

Artist reception 9.30.26

Juror: Rhiannon Scheidt, New Mexico Highlands UniversityThe 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 newfound 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 9th Biennial Conference, "Slag Circus" at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU), Las Vegas, NM

Professional
As mentors and leaders in the iron casting community the premise of this exhibition is to celebrate the wide range of techniques used in creative expression with cast iron as a medium or muse.

Student
Artwork should include iron. Work can incorporate additional media and should express individual personal concept and celebrate craft and creative design.

Artwork can be for sale. Artists are responsible for all sales.

There is no commission on art sales. Artwork is insured on location.

Works should be ready to hang and include diagrams and any specific install details.

Note: The Burris Hall Gallery layout encourages submission of wall mounted works in compliment to free standing and pedestal work. Burris Hall Gallery will feature both the Professional & Student exhibitions.

Exhibiting artists are required to attend the conference.

WCIAA Conference dates: September 30 - Oct 4, 2026

Application Requirements

Exhibiting artists are required to attend the conference.

WCIAA Conference dates: September 30 - Oct 4, 2026

Western Cast Iron Juried Exhibition

Professional/Student

Burris Hall Gallery, NMHU, Las Vegas, NM

September 1st– October 3rd, 2026

Artist reception 9.30.26

Entry Fee: $25

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

or

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

or

Artist’s last name_professional_1_detail.jpg

Awards: Juror’s Best of Show and WCIAA Board Member’s Award… in both Professional and Student. Awards for Best Packed Artwork and Worst Packed Artwork.

Opening Reception: 6-9pm Thursday, October 1, 2026

Venue: Burris Hall Gallery, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico 

http://galleries.nmhu.edu/burris-hall/

https://www.facebook.com/burris.hall/

WESTERN CAST IRON ART CONFERENCE EXHIBITION

Slag Circus

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. Open to conference participants currently enrolled in educational institution.

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

Image files must be labeled as follows:

Artist’s last name_student_1.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. Provide any install details: pedestal, wall mounted, any simple assembly instructions, etc. A printed copy of hanging instructions required with shipped with work.

WESTERN CAST IRON ART CONFERENCE EXHIBITION

Slag Circus

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. 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

Image details required:

Artist Name:

Artwork Title:

Media:

Dimensions:

Year:

Weight:

Hanging instructions:

Note: Works must be ready to hang. Provide specific specialty hardware if needed. Provide any install details: pedestal, wall mounted, any simple assembly instructions, etc. A printed copy of hanging instructions required with shipped with work.

Eligibility Criteria

The exhibition call is international and open to artists working in cast iron. Exhibiting artists are required to attend the conference. Student level and professional level artwork must involve iron as media, concept, or muse.

All artists are responsible for shipping or hand delivery of their work to and from the gallery. Artists are also responsible for their own insurance if they wish to purchase coverage for the duration of the exhibition. NMHU does not insure the artwork.