Showcase 2026: Olzak Blends Ancient Craft and Modern Art
ALBANY, N.Y. (March 10, 2026) — When molten bronze reaches more than 2,000 degrees and begins to glow inside a crucible, every movement matters.
For Master of Fine Arts candidate Joel Olzak, the moment when metal is finally poured into a mold is both intense and deeply collaborative. Students and faculty work together in careful coordination, relying on communication, trust and experience as centuries-old casting techniques are brought to life.
“It’s loud and hot,” Olzak said. “There’s a furnace fan going to heat the crucible of bronze, and everyone needs to stay focused and communicate clearly.”
His work, along with that of other graduating MFA students, will be on display during the Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition at Showcase 2026, the University at Albany’s annual celebration of student research, scholarship and creative activity.
Olzak, a Hudson Valley sculptor, has spent the past two years refining his skills in UAlbany’s MFA program while preparing the work that will serve as his thesis.
Learning an Ancient Technology
Bronze casting is one of the oldest technologies in human history, yet mastering it still depends on hands-on mentorship and experience.
Before his sculpture can be cast, Olzak shapes a wax model that will eventually be transformed into a mold. The process requires patience and careful refinement before the collaborative phase even begins.
Students coat the wax pieces in a mixture of plaster and silica to create molds, a step known as investing. It is messy, physical work, with several students preparing pieces for the pour.
“Everyone’s work gets invested at the same time,” Olzak said. “You definitely need to wear work clothes.”
When the molds are ready, a furnace heats bronze to more than 2,000 degrees before the molten metal is poured. Olzak recently served as the lift operator during the process, guiding the heavy crucible under the direction of the person controlling the pour.
“The core team is really the two people, on the crucible and the lift operator,” he said. “Everyone else is important as well, especially for safety and making sure everything happens on time.”
Last year's experience left an impression on Olzak. After contributing one piece to last year’s metal pour, he produced 10 works for this year’s event.
Art and the Arc of Human History
Olzak’s work explores the relationship between human civilization and the natural world, an interest shaped by a lifetime spent in the forests of the Hudson Valley.
“We have existed for 315,000 years,” he said. “What have we lost? How do we make things in harmony with our surroundings?”
Through sculpture and other media, he examines how traditional craft methods and human-powered processes might offer insight into a more sustainable future.
Olzak began developing that approach while studying sculpture at SUNY New Paltz, where he earned his BFA before continuing his work in UAlbany’s MFA program.
After completing his thesis, Olzak plans to continue making new work while also tackling another hands-on project closer to home.
“My mudroom needs to be tiled,” he said. “I might need to learn another craft.”
Highlighting Student Research
The University will hold its fourth annual Showcase from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30. The daylong event will feature poster sessions, presentations, performances and exhibitions highlighting student research, scholarship and creative work across multiple disciplines and all around the Uptown Campus. The MFA show will be held in the University Art Museum.
UAlbany students, faculty and staff, as well as prospective students, alumni, community members and school groups are invited to attend. The event is free and open to the public.
Students interested in presenting their work can register through Friday.
For Olzak, presenting his sculpture within that broader ecosystem of research and scholarship is part of what makes the experience meaningful.
“I’ve always admired interdisciplinary work,” he said. “You might see the logical argument for something like climate science alongside an emotional argument through art. Together, those perspectives can have a powerful impact.”