Sculpture
Code: S1213-25
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Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Rock Solid: Concrete & Mixed Media Sculpture
Aug 18 - 22, 2025
9AM-5PM
Tuition: $1,290.00
Studio Fee: $190.00
Registration Fee: $45.00
NEW: Tuition includes the welcome dinner and daily lunch
Registration Information
Concept
In this workshop, Tortora demonstrates various ways to incorporate concrete in mixed media sculpture using constructive, modeling, and basic casting approaches. We discuss how to use concrete to redistribute weight and visually defy gravity; anchoring into concrete for stable joinery; techniques for modeling concrete onto wood, foam, or other substrates; and using everyday materials like clay, cardboard, or plywood to create basic intuitive molds to generate forms. Students experiment with different cement mixes for more lightweight or eco-friendly blends. Participants leave the workshop with a basic working knowledge and skill set that can be easily replicated with economical materials and workspace.
Media & Techniques
Mixed media, concrete, wood, table saw, chop saw, bandsaw, drills, sanders, mixer, modeling, casting, troweling, finishing
Faculty
Sarah Tortora
Sarah Tortora is a visual artist and educator based in New York City. Through sculpture, writing, and digital photography, her work addresses Classical archetypes and museological display, accepting the premise that every equestrian monument is truly a Trojan horse. She received an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania and attended residencies at Skowhegan, MacDowell, and Ox-Bow School of Art, among others. She is represented by Ulterior Gallery in New York City.
Sarah Tortora, Meridian (installation view), 2024, gypsum cement, stoneware, epoxy, wood, paint
Tuition: $1,290.00
Studio Fee: $190.00
Registration Fee: $45.00
NEW: Tuition includes the welcome dinner and daily lunch
Registration Information
Sculpture
Express your creativity and vision by exploring the limitless art of sculpture. At Anderson Ranch, our sculpture program offers a vibrant spectrum of workshops that reflect a variety of studio practices. At the confluence of tradition and technology, these programs are material and technique-rich, ranging from classical metal fabrication to experimental digital production.
Students work in communal and interactive studios designed for all levels of experience, supporting traditional and nontraditional methods. The sculpture studios are fully equipped with advanced machinery and offer additional outdoor covered workspace.
Our renowned sculpture faculty work closely with students through critical discussions, material demonstrations and individual assistance. Instructors encourage exploration and experimentation, emphasizing process and idea development. We complement this with a focus on process and sound construction. You leave with far more than finished pieces—you walk away with the tools and inspiration required to elevate your studio practice.
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
For general information about studio access, shipping, and more, please visit our info page.
If you have any questions regarding your supplies for your workshop, please contact William Lanzillo, [email protected].
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- Bandsaw
- Buckets
- Drill Press
- Hammers and Mallets
- Miter Saw
- Recipricating Saw
- Tablesaw
- Trowels and Putty Knives
Supplies
- Amaco Paper Pulp
- Concrete anchors
- Concrete Bonding Adhesive
- Galvanized Diamond Lathe
- Glue
- Magic Sculpt Epoxy Clay
- N95 Respirators
- Nitrile gloves**
- Plywood
- Portland Cement
- Quikrete
- Sand
- Sika Ready-Mix Stucco Patch
- Staples
- Water based clay
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- Closed-toe shoes or work boots
Optional Tools and Supplies
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen**
- A reusable water bottle**
- Any Materials that you may want to use to pack up your projects to take home, ie: moving blankets, packing tape, bubble wrap or boxes.
- Basic white or light colored T-shirts for screen printing**
- Bring any material or object you may wish to use creatively in conjunction with concrete, and we will problem solve!
- Drawing Supplies**
- Safety glasses**
- Tools that you own that you will be unhappy without.
- Work gloves**
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Related Events
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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Summer Studio Session: Sculpture
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Tuition $1,190
Code S0918-25
The Studio Sessions at Anderson Ranch provide artists the opportunity to work on independent projects while receiving mentoring and critique sessions with Anderson Ranch artistic staff and interns. Each participant receives an assigned studio space, orientation, and access to equipment, as well as some group demonstrations and / or critiques. This program affords artists the experience enjoyed by national and international artists who access our state-of-the-art studios. Participants may expand their practices, take artistic risks, try new media or complete works for exhibition. *Studios are open 24 hours a day with limited use of equipment due to safety requirements. The machine rooms are only available when monitored – weekdays 9 AM-5 PM. Evening monitoring hours are Mondays – Thursdays, 7 – 9 PM. IMPORTANT DETAILS: Students will be responsible for all material costs associated with their projects. TO APPLY: Applicants must submit project proposals or portfolios for approval. Contact Betsy Alwin, Artistic Director of Ceramics and Expanded Media, to apply: [email protected]