Page 14 - HIWT Fall 2012 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

INTERMINGLING THE ART OF WELDING

Since 1970, Professor McKinley Frost, an instructor at
Columbia College in Sonora, California, has been teaching
students welding skills that enabled them to have prosperous
careers as welders. In 1984, Frost realized that American

Welding Society (AWS) certification was a much needed
addition to students’ portfolios and AWS has been the focal
point of his curriculum ever since. The success of his students
becoming gainfully employed as welders has since been
admired by his advisory committee.

About ten years ago, Frost recognized a gap in training needs…

specifically, those who had interest in using metal as a medium
for their artwork and who did not necessarily need the AWS-
track training, but had no local training available. With that
need in mind, Frost developed metal sculpture courses that
intermingle art with welding and has offered various metal
sculpture
training each
semester
since then.
He utilizes
The World of
Welding as an
information-
al resource
for his
students and
wanted to
share the
work of his
classes with Smoke Man
you.
Technical Trades Department-- Welding, Auto Body, and
Two of Automotive—was designed to give a visual of the programs
the pieces when visitors entered the department area. Each side of the
created by pedestal displays objects from the programs. While this piece
his classes was originally a class project that would serve as a showpiece
last semester for the department, Professor Frost’s assistant and son, Steve
are currently Frost, learned of a medical condition that required him to
displayed retire. Unanimously, the class determined that the piece should
outside the be dedicated to Steve.
Technical
Trades Dept. The second piece, known as the Smoke Man, was designed to
The fi rst enhance the smoking area on campus. Professor Frost brought
piece, a some components to class and asked his students to create a
representa- unique display for this area, with the only restriction being
tion of that he wanted pipe to be used. Upon completion, the piece
the three generated many positive comments and the students were
programs appropriately proud of the end product. Others were also
within the impressed and the Metal Sculpture class has been asked by the
college to create a piece for another facility on campus.

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