After an iron pour, scratch block molds (top photo) are placed on gravel to cool.
Below, you see several etched blocks as they appeared before the liquid iron was poured inside the squares. The chemically treated sand was etched by nail or dremel tool.
The iron pour was held by Alabama Art Casting, a nonprofit arts education group, at The Foundry during Selma's recent Historic Pilgrimage. The group is based at Tannehill Historic Ironworks Park and will have its next demonstration, Sparks at Dark, at Tannehill, May 25.
The art blocks can be used as shelf art, garden sculptures, trivets and even house numbers.
