What Is…?

Artists in Residence International (AIRI)
AiRI is a non-profit organization that circulates creative ideas and works of art. It facilitates workshops, performances, residencies and the production of new work. It creates a dialog on the arts in Atlanta that is both aware of itself, and its global context.

Railroad Earth
Railroad Earth is a multi-disciplined arts community and production facility, which, since 1997 has housed resident artists, produced art shows, hosted film screenings and other colloquia, and produced numerous works in an array of mediums.

Iron Pour
Normally, an Iron Pour is just that, the pouring of molten iron into wax or other types of molds in order to make things ranging from statues to car engines. An Iron Pour at Railroad Earth is something special. Set against a backdrop of a four-story historic house cum alternative art space, up against a creek-artery between three lush green spaces, and surrounded by live music, performance art and video projection, an Iron Pour at Railroad Earth takes on the proportions of a Spectac, as the French would say.

Scratch Molds
Typically, designing and fabricating wax molds is a highly specialized skill. At RRE iron pours, however, we strive towards inclusive experiences and encourage audience participation. As such, sand molds that are easily carved are available either prior to or at the event (if purchased at the event the mold must be carved by 9pm to ensure that it is poured). Your mold is poured sometime between 8:30 and 10:30. After a period of cooling, the sand is brushed away to reveal the embossed treasure you can keep forever.

History of the Iron Pour at Railroad Earth
The first pour at Railroad Earth was in 1998 to celebrate creativity in general, and the AIRI/Railroad Earth collaborative event entitled "Third Sunday" in particular. On each of these "Third Sundays" of the month artists of all varieties, local and visiting artists-in-residence from around the world, gathered for this combination of exhibition and performance.

The yearly Iron Pour at Railroad Earth - always attended by several hundred people hungry to carve molds and celebrate the joining of the Apollonian and Dionysian - stretched through the millennium until 2003 when the founder of Artists in Residence International, Gilla Jouette, went on sabbatical to her native home, Germany.

Under new leadership and with newfound energy, the AIRI/Railroad Earth alliance has been reconceived and will be born into the world in the crucible of iron. Once again, Carl Pelizza and his crew will be tending the furnace, and Railroad Earth and AiRI are busy at work to forge an event to be remembered.