kelly ludeking

artist's statement

My art is all about recycling. Taking what is old and making it new, giving it a new life that is appreciated. I also like to take ideas from the past and try to bring them back with a new style that is still reminiscent of the origin.

Visit Kelly Ludeking's website.

about the artist's show at pure wood pure art

What is Slush Casting Iron? It is a process that I developed over the last 5 years. It is a very non-traditional way of creating a hollow casting that would normally use a core and take a lot more work and time to create a perfect casting. I create a solid pattern using various materials and cast it in silica sand with a hardening binder.  Once the sand and binder have hardened around the pattern it is ready to cast the iron into it. When the molten iron is poured into the sand mold I let it sit for a few seconds before I start to move the mold around with a slushing motion. After 5 seconds I tip it over and roll the mold around on the ground slushing the 2600 degree metal around inside the large open mold. Once I feel I have coated the outside of the pattern enough I dump the rest of the metal out. I am trying to streamline the process and also give into the process and let it dictate more of the finished results. That is why you will see most of the pieces are not perfect castings, but in my mind they are perfect because I love the inperfections in every vessel. They are like everyone of us, not perfect. But beautiful in their own way. Everyone of these pieces  is one of a kind, unable to be replicated ever again.