Hot Art! Artist Tile Workshops

‘Hot Art’ Artist Tile Workshops

Whether you are new to the process or want to continue your design series, join us for one of our artist tile workshops!
During our two-hour workshop learn how to translate your own design into an open-faced sand mold that will be filled with molten metal at the Public Iron Pour on Saturday, August 8, 2026. Students will gain a basic understanding of metal casting and come away with an object of their own design.

The cost is $45 per mold. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
Choose from one of the available sessions below by clicking on the desired date.

Saturday, August 1

Space is limited!
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

This Event Has Ended

Saturday, August 1

Space is limited!
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

This Event Has Ended

Wednesday, August 5

Space is limited!
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

This Event Has Ended

Saturday, August 8

Space is limited!
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

This Event Has Ended

“It’s molten iron- it’s hotter than lava!” – An Interview With Roger Karlson

As we approach the hot month of August, an exciting opportunity for seasoned and beginning artists alike will take place at Caponi Art Park. During the Hot Art! Artist Tile Workshops, a team of professional artists from Igneous Metal Arts will guide participants through the process of drafting, mirroring and carving a tile mold to be filled with molten iron during the public iron pour. This is a rare opportunity for beginners to dip their toes (not literally) into the unique world of metal arts.

Igneous Metal Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving metal casting as an art practice. They run workshops and public events through the upper midwest to share their love for the art. Roger Karlson, one of the founders of the traveling art group, got his start as a welder and eventually joined a group of metal casting artists at the University of Minnesota. Soon after their meeting, they built a portable cupolette (the furnace for melting iron) and became Igneous Metal Arts.

When asked about the art form, Karlson tells Caponi Art Park that one of his favorite parts is collaborating with the iron casting community. “They’re honest, straightforward and it’s something we enjoy.” There is undoubtedly an air of danger surrounding metal casting, but Roger Karlson says “We enjoy it because of the danger. It’s molten iron-it’s hotter than lava! When you’re casting something, there’s no guarantee you’ll get what you thought you were gonna get. Sometimes mishaps, happy accidents, explosions.” It’s clear though that this unpredictability is what makes iron casting so special.

Roger Karlson emphasizes the challenge and ultimate reward of carving tiles in preparation for the public iron pour. “It’s a new skill set for many people.This backward mirror image is something that takes a while for people to gather. You draw what you want to carve into the tile with a magic marker that bleeds through. Then you can turn it over and use it like carbon paper to draw lines on your tile facing the correct direction. That’s the most difficult part to teach. Once that little light goes off, people carve incredibly beautiful and intricate things.”

The Hot Art! Artist Tile Workshops are open to participants of all ages and skill levels, although younger children will collaborate with their families. “It’s a plethora of different types of people!” says Karlson. “Kids, middle-aged, old people show up, young people show up. Everyone talks and watches, it’s a community learning and making experience.” Registration is still open for all three workshop dates (July 31st, August 3rd and August 7th) and participants will reconvene at the park on Saturday, August 10th for the public iron pour into their tile molds. This is a thrilling opportunity to create art that you won’t want to pass up, and we’re honored, as always, \ to host Igneous Metal Arts at Caponi Art Park for another year of their remarkable iron casting.