Sculptor Aaron Gist shows off his craft at Take 190 West festival
Posted On: Monday, Mar. 1 2010 12:46 AM
By Rebecca LaFlure
Killeen Daily HeraldMetal sculptor Aaron Gist said many aspects of his life inspire him to create aluminum pieces of art, but it's the process that inspires him the most.
On a platform outside the Killeen Civic and Conference Center Saturday afternoon, Gist performed metal-casting demonstrations for eager visitors during the second annual Take 190 West Art Festival.
"I love casting metal – the heat, the fire. … There's something primal about it," Gist said. "I guess I got a touch of pyromaniac in me."
Gist first cut Styrofoam models into various images and shapes and packed them in a sand mold. Next, he melted aluminum inside a pot in a 2,000-degree furnace and poured the hot aluminum into the mold.
"It vaporizes the Styrofoam model and replaces it with aluminum," he said.
Inside the conference center, 15 published authors and 20 professional artists sat at booths that lined the entrance.
The event included a student art show, storytelling, a musical performance by Trout Fishing and an improv comedy show by Les McGehee.
Connie Kuehl, one of the event's organizers, said the city of Killeen and the Killeen Independent School District created the event last year as a way to bring local art and culture to the community.
Kuehl said this year the festival added music and entertainment, portrait-painting sessions and Gist's metal-casting demonstrations.
"It's been packed all day," said Kuehl, adding that she hopes the show will continue to grow each year and eventually move downtown. "It's great for people to see what can be done by local artists and to encourage children to express their creativity through art."
Gist, a Temple resident, said he created his first metal casting at 8 years old when he wanted a star pin for his camouflage hat. However, he said he didn't truly immerse himself in metal sculpting until 10 years ago after taking a sculpting class at the University of Texas.
Gist said he creates a range of models, from fruits to gunfighters.
"It really depends on my mood," he said.
He now travels around the state performing demonstrations and while he enjoys creating metal art, he said, "It's more about the show than making pieces to sell."
Contact Rebecca LaFlure at
rlaflure@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7548. Follow her on Twitter at KDHeducation.