The five heads – each 2.5m tall – were cast by Maybrey Precision Castings of Old Mill Lane, Aylesford, to a design by the 29-year-old artist Rayvenn Shaleigha D’Clark.
The works are entitled Black Renaissance and were commissioned by the Equal Justice Initiative.
They depict five anonymous black figures symbolising the hidden histories and overlooked contributions of black people to American life.
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.
Andrew Hills is Maybrey Precision’s managing director. He said: “Traditional sand patterns would have chemically bonded to the complex shapes, making the process prohibitively expensive and nearly impossible to execute.”
Maybrey solved this challenge by pioneering the use of 3D-printed sand moulds, enabling precise and cost-effective production.
The sculptures were each cast in 52 segments, using double pours and multiple ingates to prevent blemishes from oxides and gas pockets.
The sculptures were then polished, assembled, and finally welded together by Millimetre, a fabrication firm in West Sussex, before being shipped to Alabama for installation.
Mr Hills said: “The Black Renaissance project showcases how innovative processes can transform artistic visions into reality, opening new doors for artists to bring digital creations to life affordably.”
The sculptures have earned Maybrey Precision Castings a “Best Component Award in the annual awards of The Cast Metals Federation.
Mr Hills said: “This recognition highlights our dedication to pushing the boundaries of casting innovation and cements our position at the forefront of the art world.
“We’re excited to collaborate with more artists, helping them realise their concepts and create enduring works of art.”
Maybrey Precision Castings traces its heritage back to the Hatcham Ironworks established by George England in 1839.
Maybrey is now part of the Caro Group.
It’s MD is Dave Lowe.
He said: “Even though we have a history dating back 185 years, Maybreys has not been in an award-winning situation since the 1960s.”
“Foundry work can be repetitive and monotonous, but every now and again something wonderful comes up – like these heads.
“The fact that, for the first time ever, an art casting has won the Component of the Year has caused a big stir and it’s been a little intoxicating!
“Since the win, we have been approached for a number of different projects, some of which are as exciting as the Black Renaissance project.”
Maybrey moved to Aylesford in 2020, in the middle of Covid.
It employs 34 staff.
The company’s normal line of work sees them supplying components to the automotive, rail and aerospace industries, and closer to home, casting the mooring blocks at Allington Lock on the Medway at Aylesford.
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