FeLion Studios call for studio assistant October 22nd ~ December 22nd

[Alisa Toninato]

Hey Everyone ~

FeLion Studios , a design / build sculpture studio and metal casting enterprise here in Madison, is getting geared up for a loaded Fall and Winter season full of casting, model making, and molding making fun. In anticipation for more work than one can handle, I'm throwing out an open call to the Sector 67 Family of makers ... and BEYOND ~!  

I'm looking for a part-time (5-20 hrs/ week as needed ) studio assistant who is professionally minded and detail oriented artist/maker/doer/crafter with experience or interest in learning the find craft of mold making, foundry work, metal finishing and pattern making. 

I have flexible working hours, and typically work in the afternoon and at night, but am wiling to adjust and meet the needs of my helpers. 

This is a skilled trade position ~ selected candidate will be working with 2 part silicone and plaster mold making, plastic and sand casting, foundry crew helper, and most likely some woodworking / finishing jobs and the occasional assistance with larger shipments of cast iron products coming in and light finishing work / packaging / shipping for the holidays. 

Ideal candidate has experience with mold making and/or enthusiasm to learn 2 part sand casting, silicone mold making, plaster mixing, and plastic casting.  The option to learn foundry work is offered, but metal finishing and comfort working with grinders, dremels, mixers, and fire is a must. Some heavy lifting involved, but we do as much work with the hoist if we can help it. 

Compensation :  Probationary period of 2 weeks ( 14 days)  is an unpaid risk to both you and me. I am looking for someone that could potentially be a long-term assistant competent to learn the processes and specifically observant skills sets employed by FeLion Studios LLC. If after the probationary 14 days that I find you are truly awesome, starting pay is $10/hr , with opportunities to quickly grow into bigger responsibilities / more pay . 

Benefits of working for FeLion Studios? :  The accessibility to cast metal is a fairly frequent opportunity here at FeLion Studios. Get connected with a wide network of other cast iron / foundry artists across the Midwest, learn all about the processes and functions of a full time sculpture studio, pick my brain on anything that strikes your fancy from pattern making to large scale sculptural processes, get a workout, be part of a creative growing business, and find yourself in an extremely fun working environment with a load of music and power tools ;] 

Interested candidates must : send in a current resume' or CV generally describing past working experiences, along with a short ( one page ) description of what interests you about potentially working for FeLion Studios, and some things you'd like to accomplish for yourself while you're here.  

I do NOT offer insurance for people, so this position requires signing a waiver acknowledging that this work is potentially hazardous and can be physically demanding. FeLion Studios will provide SOME safety gear, such as gloves, hearing protection, dust masks, welding jackets, leathers, and helmets. But having your own properly fitting safety gear is recommended before starting, including any prescription safety eye ware or goggles that cover over glasses, and half mast respirators that fit your face and have the correct canisters on them. 

I like working with fun and creative people! ~ but I do take safety seriously, as many of the materials we work with have long term health effects . So personal and collaborative responsibility is a must here !

Please feel free to pass this call onto anyone that you may feel could be a good fit for this unique position !  Thanks for all considerations!  

EMAIL RESUME' or CV, and page of interests here:

Al...@FeLionStudios.com

Best Regards,

--
Alisa Toninato

Owner/Artist

www.FeLionStudios.com

608.308.1113

[Alisa Toninato]

NICK ~!

Great to hear from you !  I am thrilled to read your email and would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have you come on my team !  

Your brief notes on some of your background is enough for me to be excited about your potential. I'm really happy to learn here that you have a strong chemistry background, have made the initiative to at least check out the UW's foundry, and are willing , (excited even?) about smashing tubs and sinks for iron. --- There's going to be a lot of that in the next month :}

I'd like to give you a tour of the small shop and low-down of what's ahead for me this winter once I get back from New York ~ which will be this coming Monday, October 22nd.  

Basically- I have about 50 castings to complete before Thanksgiving, and they all need to be cleaned / ground / seasoned and shipped before Christmas. - 

There will be 2 iron pours - one on November 3rd in Decorah, IA, and the other at my shop sometime around THanksgiving .  I'll need about 10 silicone/ plaster moulds made before the end of this month, and a short run of plastic parts cast for mould making in Decorah.  

I'll of course lay all of this out further with a calendar, production schedule ,  ect ect again when we can actually hook up face to face . 

Would you be available sometime the week of Oct 22 - 26 for an intro and run-down of FeLion jobs and policy's?  

If everything sounds good with you and you're available, we could jump right into the process and get this massive amount of work started that week . 

Let me know what works for you this next week, and we'll make it happen. 

Thanks for your follow up !  I'm excited to bring in new people to this crazy and fun little world that is building up around the FeLion art & production lines. It's going to be a wild winter filled with fire and sparks and multiples of things everywhere. Hope you're ready for it ! :} 

Best regards,

Alisa Toninato

Owner/artist

www.FeLionStudios.com

608.308.1113