Photo gallery: Pouring molten iron into art

Arts & Culture Minneapolis, Minn. ·

1 Professor Wayne Potratz, left, who is retiring after 45 years of teaching art at the University of Minnesota, hangs out near the cupola during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art. 
2 Students break up pieces of old radiators that will be melted down during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. Radiators are made from high-quality cast iron and are desireable items to melt. 
3 The scene at the University of Minnesota's foundry during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art. 
4 The cupola is "tapped" as molten iron pours from it Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
5 Students and visiting artists pour the hot iron into their molds during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
6 An open-face mold is filled with cooling iron during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
7 Professor Wayne Potratz, who is retiring after 45 years of teaching art at the University of Minnesota, starts off the iron pour by introducing all the visiting artists who are participating Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art. 
8 The sand molds are broken open to reveal the sculptures Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
9 The artists skim slag, containing impurities or other debris, off the surface of the hot iron before pouring it into molds Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
10 The students and professional artists work in teams during the iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
11 The coke, or fuel, is added to the cupola before more iron is added during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
12 Minneapolis artist Jim Williams removes his sculptures from their molds during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota. 
13 A sculpture cools on the ground during an iron pour Friday, Apr. 25, 2014 at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota.