In October, sculptors and sculpture lovers from all over the world gathered in Chicago for the ISC’s 23rd International Sculpture Conference. This year’s conference, Process, Public, Patron, was an international success. The event brought together more than 375 artists, curators, city planners, educators, art supporters and students to experience the 2012 Chicago Conference.

Dango, Barbara Hashimoto. 2012 International Sculpture Conference.

SC Student Award and little SCULPTURE Show. Photo David Platter, Charting with Self. 2012 International Sculpture Conference.

The ISC featured an opening reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago as well as keynote addresses by Ed Uhlir, Sanford Biggers and Sophie Ryder.

The conference hosted an international roster of 55 presenters featured in 14 thought-provoking panel discussions, held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Cultural Center.

Guests and visitors enjoyed workshop demonstrations at Sedgwick Studios, Vector Custom Fabricating and Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (with spectacular iron pours). The weekend also featured a West Loop gallery hop and the Pilsen East Artist Open House. Finally, the ISC presented activities including city architectural and outdoor sculpture tours.

Overall, nine countries were represented at the International Conference, including: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria and France.

Pilsen East Artist Open House. 2012 International Sculpture Conference.

Iron Pour at Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park. 2012 International Sculpture Conference.

The International Sculpture Center is a member-supported, nonprofit organization founded in 1960 to champion the creation and understanding of sculpture and its unique, vital contribution to society.

Their mission is to expand public understanding and appreciation of sculpture internationally and demonstrate the power of sculpture to educate and effect social change. They work to engage artists and arts professionals in a dialogue to advance the art form, while promoting a supportive environment for sculpture and sculptors.

For more information, visit www.sculpture.org.

Emmaline Niendorf is a Content Manager for Otherwise Incorporated.