ISSUED: 9 May 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Fine Arts, Science, Technology, Engineering, Educational Resource (FASTEnER) Lab is working with several collaborative partners to offer free welding workshops and an iron casting demonstration.
Welding workshops
The free welding workshops will take place May 11, 18, and 24 from 5-7 p.m. at Shepherd’s Center for Contemporary Arts building and is open to all community members and students in grades 8-12. Participants will learn how to use MIG welders and plasma cutters to create artistic forms of pollinating insects from reclaimed steel. The creations will be installed on a sculptural fence at Shepherd’s Carl F. Bell Arboretum to protect pollinator plants.
Each session will have a limit of six participants in order to provide a comfortable and safe learning experience. All participating members of a family or group must sign up separately but can use the same email address. Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop.
To register, visit the workshop sign-up page.
The FASTEnER Lab is working with Two Rivers Giving Circle and the Seeding Your Future Initiative to make this workshop possible
Iron Pour at The Maryland Iron Festival
The FASTEnER Lab is also participating in an iron casting demonstration at the Maryland Iron Festival on Saturday May 21 from 12-4 p.m. This event is open to the public and free to watch.
The public can participate in the iron pour by creating their own iron tile. Molds for iron tiles can be purchased through the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society. Molds can be picked up before or on the morning of the event. Proceeds support the organization and festival.
The iron casting demonstration is a collaboration between Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Keystone Iron Works, and Shepherd University’s FASTEnER Lab, and is sponsored by Visit Frederick.
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