ON THE JOB WITH… VANGUARD SCULPTURES

ON THE JOB WITH…

Vanguard Sculpture Services

Tucked away on the northern end of Milwaukee’s 30th Street Industrial Corridor is a group of artists with decades of bronze casting experience.

In 1993, artists Beth Sahagian-Allsopp and Michael Nolte left Milwaukee’s Bronze Heart art foundry to start a foundry of their own. Three years later, the business partners opened Vanguard Sculpture Services, whose artists not only craft artwork of their own but can bring the work of others to life with bronze. By Brandon Anderegg, staff writer

Communication is key for the Vanguard team. When a piece of artwork is removed from the kiln at approximately 1,800 degrees and is placed on the pour floor, the pour team has just eight minutes to cast the bronze into a ceramic mold before either the molten bronze or the artwork becomes too cool.

“It’s not only about being safe, but also about being super-efficient,” Sahagian-Allsopp said. “So, everybody has to be in top form when they are on the pour floor.” n

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The pour crew works to lift the 2,050-degree crucible. From left: Chris Andrews, Ed Sahagian-Allsopp and Michael Nolte.

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Beth Sahagian-Allsopp shows off the wax, clay and silicone molds of the bronze sculpture of Road America founder Clif Tufte.

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Shawn Stephany and Michael Nolte open the kiln containing the ceramic molds of artwork, heated to over 1,800 degrees.

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Michael Nolte protects himself with a cavalier fire suit as he removes the ceramic mold from the kiln.

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Shawn Stephany and Michael Nolte work to clean the inside of the mold before pouring molten bronze.

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Molten bronze is poured into each ceramic mold, which is held steady by chains during the pour.