Maybrey Precision Castings, a proud member of the Caro Group of Companies, has won the prestigious ‘Component’ Award at the Cast Metals Federation Awards 2024. This recognition celebrates their groundbreaking work on Black Renaissance, a series of five monumental Silicon Bronze sculptures now on display at the Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park in Alabama, USA.

Commissioned by the Equal Justice Initiative and conceptualised by artist Rayven Sheilagh D’Clark, Black Renaissance comprises five 2.5-metre-tall bronze sculptures. These powerful works honour anonymous figures, symbolising the hidden histories and overlooked contributions of Black individuals, while celebrating their enduring courage and resilience.

Innovative Casting Techniques for a Monumental Challenge
To achieve D’Clark’s intricate vision, models for the sculptures were created using 3D scanning of live subjects. Deep facial dimpling and undercutting, designed for a tactile experience, posed significant technical challenges for the Foundry experts. Traditional sand patterns would have chemically bonded to the complex shapes, making the process prohibitively expensive and nearly impossible to execute.

Maybrey Precision Castings solved this challenge by pioneering the use of 3D-printed sand moulds, enabling precise and cost-effective production. The sculptures were cast in 52 segments, using Silicon Bronze for its exceptional weldability and ability to accommodate variations in wall thickness.

A bespoke running system designed by the team at Maybrey ensured optimal metal flow, incorporating double pours and multiple ingates to prevent blemishes from oxides and gas pockets. The sculptures were then polished, assembled, and welded by Millimetre, an award-winning design and fabrication firm in West Sussex, before being shipped to Alabama for installation.

A Legacy of Innovation and Representation
The processes developed during the Black Renaissance project have unlocked new opportunities for artists to bring digital creations to life at an accessible cost. This achievement underscores Maybrey’s longstanding commitment to innovation and its pivotal role in advancing the casting industry.

Installed at the Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park, the sculptures form part of the Equal Justice Initiative’s mission to confront the legacy of slavery and racial injustice in America. Through their striking presence, they invite reflection and dialogue, serving as lasting tributes to the strength and perseverance of those whose stories have long been marginalised.

Without Maybrey’s expertise, this transformative project may not have been realised. Their work stands as a testament to how art and innovation can shape history and create meaningful representation in public spaces.

Images of the Black Renaissance Project

Castings and complete silicon bronze sculptures production pioneering the use of 3D-printed sand moulds at Maybrey Precision Castings, UK:

Artist Rayven D’Clark sat inside one of the sculptures during manufacturing demonstrating the ambitious size of these castings and the completed installation at EJI’s Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park, Alabama, USA:

About Maybrey Precision Castings

Part of the Caro Group of Companies, Maybrey Precision Castings has been a leader in the casting industry since 1849. Operating from its dual-purpose site in Kent, the foundry is internationally recognised for its expertise in sand casting and the use of 3D-printed sand moulds to achieve outstanding results.

About Rayven Sheilagh D’Clark

Rayven D’Clark is a celebrated sculptor and graduate of Central Saint Martins and Chelsea School of Art. Known for her lifelike, mask-inspired sculptures, she combines live casting and 3D printing to create compelling narratives about identity and representation. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree in 2024, D’Clark has achieved one of the largest art commissions awarded to a woman under 30 with Black Renaissance.

About Millimetre

Millimetre is an award-winning design and fabrication company based in Portslade, UK. Specialising in collaborations with artists and architects, Millimetre was responsible for the intricate metalwork and welding on the Black Renaissance sculptures.

About the Equal Justice Initiative

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is dedicated to ending mass incarceration, challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights. EJI’s Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park honours the legacy of enslaved individuals through contemporary art, historical artefacts, and first-person narratives.