Sculpting With Cement - FULL
Workshop Fees:$160 + $50 Materials Fee
Workshop #:WS0908-19
Workshop Times:9:30 to 3:30
Workshop Description:In this workshop, sculpting with cement is treated similarly to sculpting with clay. Learn several ways of using cement and admixtures to get a stiff clay-like consistency that can be added to the sculpture much as you would with 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.
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 of virtually any size.
NOTE Students must arrive promptly by 9:30 a.m. on the first day, as safety methods will be discussed initially. Without having covered the safety aspect, students cannot continue with the rest of the workshop.
Materials Provided by Instructor
- Aggregates
- Grey & white cement
- 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 favourites)
Note: Bring a potluck lunch to share
Location:Denman Island Arts Centre
Michael Rapati
Ice and snow sculpture inspired Michael Rapati to create large sculptural works and 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 with clay and other mediums were nearly non-existent with cement.
Since 1989 Michael has created cement sculptures in a variety of sizes from inches to several metres. His work is in private collections, civic plazas and commercial venues.
Michael enjoys sharing his knowledge of using cement through artist at work demonstrations and workshops. He 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 has instructed several Cement Sculpture workshops, including two on Denman in 2005 and 2008.