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WHO: The Department of Art at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and University Galleries

WHAT: Valentine’s Day Mobile Foundry Workshop

WHEN: Thursday, February 14, from 3-4 p.m.

WHERE: Behind Driscoll Children’s Hospital, 3533 S. Alameda St. (Enter main lobby)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas –Jack Gron, a professor of sculpture and art department chair at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, will conduct a Valentine’s Day workshop in the casting of molten aluminum to young cardiology patients, staff and administrators of Driscoll Children’s Hospital Thursday, Feb. 14, from 3-4 p.m. behind Driscoll Children’s Hospital, 3533 S. Alameda St.

Participants will draw and carve designs on 6-inch square resin sand tablets. Gron and his graduate sculpture students will then cast molten aluminum into the carved tablets and once cooled, the tiles will be removed from the sand, cleaned and presented to the patients. Materials for the workshop were donated by Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

Through his Mobile Foundry project, Gron introduces students in South Texas to processes and materials not normally available in art classes. The Mobile Foundry facility, which consists of a portable crucible furnace fueled by bottled propane, is housed on a trailer which allows Gron to visit locations across the region.