Serving the High Plains

Mesalands iron pour starts March 10

Mesalands Community College is hosting its 15th Annual Iron Pour March 10-16.

Approximately 40 students from at least eight different states will be participating in this year's Iron Pour.

During this one-week course, students create sculptures and translate them into cast iron pieces of art.

"We want to invite the community to come and see Tucumcari through a different set of eyes. I've never known any place like this week-long event. It will be amazing!" said D'Jean Jawrunner, art faculty at Mesalands.

There will be various events throughout the week open to the community. March 12, there will be a "Feeding the Starving Artists" Potluck Dinner at 5:30 p.m., in the Foundry located in Building D. During this event, community members are invited to bring a dish and have dinner with the artists. A slideshow of artists' work will follow the dinner

On March 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. there will be a recognition ceremony for Henry Gonzalez. A bronze sculpted commemorative plaque created by one of Mesalands' students will be installed at the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum in honor of Gonzales.

Gonzales was the technical assistant for the Fine Arts/Bronze Program at Mesalands and was essential in creating the life-size bronze

sculptures in the museum. New exhibits at the Dinosaur Museum will also be on display.

Also on March 13, there will be an Art Show of the iron pour students' work at the Mesalands Library starting at 6:30 p.m. The art will remain on display throughout the week.

On March 14, at 7 p.m. the Kill County Band will perform at the North American Wind Research and Training Center. The Kill County Band has a country sound mixed with folk music.

The performance is sponsored by Mesalands and Quay Council for Arts and Humanities and is free.

The opening ceremony for the actual pouring of the cast iron will begin at 11:30 a.m. March 15 and the pour will follow.