My cabinet: Walla Walla Foundry / Walla Walla
Make do and bend
In a small town in Washington state, a skilled team of foundry workers is helping artists turn ambitious ideas into material reality.
For some of the world’s leading contemporary artists, the path from studio concept to museum exhibition runs through a small town in southeastern Washington state. The Walla Walla Foundry specialises in metal fabrication and bronze-casting for artworks as tall as 18 metres. Founder Mark Anderson, a Walla Walla native, studied at the town’s Whitman College, a liberal-arts school, and learned metal-crafting at a small foundry focusing on American Western art. His tastes veered towards contemporary art, however, and he established his own factory in 1980.
Pop artist Jim Dine put the foundry on the map and it has since become a preferred fabricator for the likes of Matthew Barney, Yayoi Kusama and Wangechi Mutu. Anderson died in 2019 but his widow and children continue to uphold his legacy. “Success for us means focusing on contemporary art and supporting creatives,” says co-owner Jay Anderson.
Jay studied art at universities in Seattle and New York. Though he still practises his craft, he returned from the big city to the family homestead to further his father’s mission. His extensive experience is what encourages many people to make the trek to Walla Walla from far corners of the art world.
“For artists, our team is like a physical extension of the studio,” says Jay. “There are 100 technicians here who can all work as your assistant if needed.”
These factory workers translate artistic concepts into tangible works of art, whether that involves bending metal or shaping wood. The accumulated experience of the past 40 years has taught the foundry’s team how to do just about anything. “Artists have an idea but they might not know how to make it,” says Anderson. “That’s why we’re here. We help them to solve their problems.” —
Patricia Anderson co-founded the foundry with her late husband, Mark, in 1980. She continues to preserve the company’s history and provide the next generation with guidance. As a trained painter and sculptor, her son, Jay, has a deep understanding of the contemporary art world. He also runs the family winery. Her daughter, Lisa, studied art history and business. She handles the fine print – contracts, budgets, insurance and red tape. For the Andersons, the foundry’s mantra is simple: “We don’t want to say no.”
1. Roberto Morales Metal fabricator “Monumental problem-solver”
2. Dustin Jones Metal shop supervisor “Steady hand and taskmaster”
3. Byron Peterson Metal fabricator “Keeper of stories and wisdom from his 38-year career”
4. Ryan Bagley Operations manager “The authority on safety and efficiency”
5. Tammie Buchanan Finance director “Budget whisperer and numbers genius”
6. Leif Dillow Foundry supervisor “Casting wizard with unmatched expertise”
7. Brandon Perez Foundry technician “The new guy with great promise”
8. Caleb Schmidt Foundry technician “Casting understudy and friendly Viking”
9. Matt Ryle Director of production “Art-world veteran and project mastermind”
10. Brianna Wray Photographer “Pun-loving documentarian who captures working processes”
11. Humberto Gonzalez Lead painter “Paints inside the lines every time”
12. Jeremy Lilwall Wax-room and patina supervisor “Expert patineur and tracking maestro”
13. Grant Griffin Facility and crating manager “Keeps everything together – literally”
14. Deirdre Bealey HR manager “Resourceful human and HR guru”
15. Jonathan Follett President “Public-facing, forward-thinking team leader and big-picture strategist”