Sculpting With Cement
Workshop Dates:Fri Aug 22 - Sun Aug 24, 2008
Workshop Fees:$140 + $60 materials fee
Workshop #:WS0808-14
Course Times:9:30 am - 3:30 pm Sharp!
In this 3-day workshop, you will find that sculpting with cement is similar to sculpting with clay.
We will learn several ways of using cement and admixtures to get a stiff clay-like consistency, which can be added to the sculpture much like you would with clay.
However, unlike clay, cement has a curing process so there is no need to fire the finished work in a kiln.
A cement sculpture can be altered, repaired and added to years down the road. We will learn how to design armatures and use reinforcing. Various surface treatments and colouring methods will be covered.
Participants will find that cement is the most versatile medium they'll ever use to make a durable sculpture virtually any size.
Materials provided by the instructor:
- Grey & white cement
- Aggregates
- Reinforcing wire, fabric & fibers
- Admixtures
Students should bring:
- Long, smooth tough rubber gloves
- Safety mask with side protection
- Dust mask
- 8 to 16 " stainless steel mixing bowl without edges (cheapest you can find)
- Needle nose pliers
- Regular pliers
- Tin snips
- Butter knife, non-serrated, not good quality
- Apron or other clothing to protect skin from cement
- 3 to 5 plastic yogurt containers 250-500 ml. size
- 2-5 plastic grocery bags or dry cleaning bags
- Scissors (not favorites)
- Potluck lunch
Location:Denman Island Arts Centre
Michael Rapati
Ice and snow sculpture inspired Michael to create large sculptural works. This ignited a craving to make permanent monumental sized sculptures.
In 1989 he attended a workshop by Lynn Olson on sculpting with cement. He immediately realized the endless possibilities inherent with this medium. Size and design limitations inherent with clay and other mediums were nearly non existent with cement.
Enthusiastic about this medium, Michael has created cement sculptures in a variety of sizes from inches to several meters during the past nearly 20 years. His work is held in private collections, and viewed in civic plazas and commercial venues.
Michael is a member of the Sculptors Association of Alberta. He enjoys sharing his knowledge about working with cement. He has organized "Artists at Work" demonstrations creating 2.5 to 3.5m tall cement sculptures "Dance of Man", "GIGI" and "Convergence" during The Works Visual Arts Festivals in Edmonton and Michael has instructed several cement sculpture courses, including one on Denman in 2005.