Contemporary art with a metalcasting twist.

Cast iron is associated most often with industrial production items, such as machinery, pipes and manhole covers, but some artists have found it to be a valuable medium for expression, as well.

The National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, Tenn., works to showcase thousands of different pieces of art using metal and metalforming techniques. The museum also hosts art classes and recently opened the Lawler Foundry to offer opportunities to learn sand casting and the casting of jewelry.

Recently, the metal museum held a temporary exhibit, Contemporary Cast Iron, which was an exploration of the use of cast iron as an artistic media. This exhibit featured a wide range of approaches and techniques utilized to address cast iron both as a material and a conceptual realization.