International Conference On Contemporary Cast Iron ArT

Organization

In memoriam: Thomas Duncan Gipe

Thomas Duncan Gipe, Professor Emeritus and Co-Founder of the International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art, passed away on December 1, 2021. Thom earned a BA from Tarkio College, a BFA from the University of Nebraska, and an MFA from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He was an accomplished artist, blacksmith, sculptor, editor, and educator at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where he built and nurtured an outstanding undergraduate and graduate program in sculpture for 30 years. As Co-Director of the first ICCCIA, he articulated the goal of demystifying the cast iron process, increasing gender and racial inclusion, and developing greater community. It was Thom’s idea to approach Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Birmingham AL as the site for the conference. Thom’s 8” inside diameter traditional cupola was one of the four furnaces at that first conference.

Thom Gipe’s work in sculpture combined cast bronze, cast iron, and forged steel and referenced his childhood on the family farm near Malvern, Iowa, his love of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area, and his lifelong passion for classic cars! His beautifully restored 1983 Studebaker Avanti and his 1948 racer yellow with Corvette engine Ford pickup won awards, appeared in his drawings, and modeled the excellent craft of his sculptural work. He exhibited his work nationally and internationally, conducted and sponsored numerous forging and casting workshops, and championed the Metals Museum in Memphis, TN, where he was a Board Member. Few people know that he was also a sharpshooter, a veteran, scuba diver, dirt bike racer, Harley rider, consummate punster, passionate gardener, and a superb cook.

As we meet in Berlin in September for the 9^thInternational Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art, may we honor and remember the creativity, generosity of spirit, and legacy of Thom Gipe. In our last conversation, he said, “It’s been a good run!” Indeed! Requiescat in Pace, Thom.

Wayne E. Potratz

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The images in the slide show above were provided by Wayne E. Potratz

1. Thomas Gipe , BWCAW 2017

2. Thom Gipe in his Winona Solo Canoe

3. Potratz, Swartz, and Gipe at U of Kentucky Iron Pour, 1996

4. Gipe and Potratz, U of MN 45th Iron Pour, 2014

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Thomas Gipe

"ICCCIA: International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art" is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. PO Box 238483 Cocoa, FL 32923

Email Us: admin@icccia.org

Address:
PO Box 238483

Cocoa, FL 32923