Metal
Metal has been worked with by artists since the Bronze Age (3300 to 1200 BC) when man crafted simple tools.Chinese bronze ceremonial vessels have been found from as early as 1800 BC. In Greece, the lost-wax bronze casting became the primary technique for creating statuary in the 5th century BC. The lost-wax process became popular again in the Italian Renaissance and continues today.
Welding metals into sculpture emerged in the early part of the 20th century as a response to industrialization. Metal can be welded, hammered, cut, bent, textured, colored and melted. Wire can be used alone or with other metal forms.
Students can easily create wire sculptures or repoussé pieces (lines drawn into soft metal sheets). Welding and torches require safety procedures and equipment.
Statuette of a veiled and masked dancer; Hellenistic, 3rd–2nd century BC; Greek; Bronze;"Statuette of a veiled and masked dancer [Greek]" (1972.118.95) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1972.118.95. (April 2007)
Standing bodhisattva, 8th–9th centuryNepal; Gilt copper alloy;"Standing bodhisattva [Nepal]" (1981.59) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1981.59. (October 2006)
Auguste Rodin; The Burghers of Calais; bronze; 1884, ca1889; in Victoria Tower Gardens, London, England
W. Granville Hastings; Liberty Arming the Patriots; bronze; 1897
Joan Miro; Personnage Gothique, Oiseau-Eclair; bronze; 1974
Igor Mitoraj; Eros Bendato (Eros Tied); bronze; 1999
The images above are in the public domain.
Some tips and tutorials about metal sculpture:
Kevin Caron: Bending and Shaping Metal
Kryptowrite: Mixed Media Projects
Wire2Craft
United Artworks: Metal Resources
Dimensions Through Art: Choosing Metals
Some sites about the history of metal sculpture:
Asia for Educators: The Great Bronze Age of China
J C Copper: The Great Bronze Age of China
Some sites about metal sculpture:
IUP Sculpture: Sculpting with Metal
Metal Artist Sculptor: Repousse and Chasing Techniques
Modern Sculpture: Bronze
eHow: Types of Metal Sculptures
Bronze Gallery
Some artists who worked with metal:
Alexander Calder
Auguste Rodin
Henry Moore
Go Welding: Art of Welding
Metal Sculpture at www. metmuseum.com:
Greek Bronze
Nepalese Sculpture
Bronze Sculpture in the Renaissance
American Bronze Sculpting
Buddhist Art
Some contemporary artists who work with metal:
Capital Steel: Top 10 Steel Sculpting Websites
Dr. Frankensteel
Greg Kucera
Owen Cunningham
Jeff Owen
Evelyn Rosenberg
Rudi Jass
Maronpot
Arnaldo Pomodoro