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Arline Fisch

 

Metals Week

June 28–July 2, 2009




Overview

Metals Week 2009 is designed to be a week of creative and social renewal where you can relearn how to be open to learning and seeing from a creative perspective. You will be working with master instructors in an environment that encourages opportunities to test ideas, try things out and make new work as well as network and exchange ideas with others jewelers and metalsmiths. Whether you come to learn new skills or enhance the skills and techniques you already know, you will have the opportunity to grow as an artist in metal.

This week of intensive metals studies will begin on Sunday, June 28 and run through Thursday, July 2. You will have the opportunity to work with one of five outstanding jewelers/metalsmiths–but in addition, each of the instructors will have open studio time Sunday through Wednesday so you can ask questions, watch demos, examine samples and visit with each of the instructors. By the end of the session, you will have experienced all five of the instructors teaching during Metals Week. This schedule maximizes a rich and well-rounded experience with intensive studies focusing in the area and with the instructor you have chosen.

Class size is limited to allow for maximum interaction among participants and with the instructors. The metals studios are equipped with torches and large equipment as needed for the classes. A comprehensive list of items students will need to bring will be sent upon registration.

Enriching Surfaces - Pauline Warg

Exploring Enameling - Linda Darty

Experimenting with Surface - Brigid O'Hanrahan

The Mighty Mill - Deborah E. Love Jemmott

Textile Techniques in Metal - Arline Fisch

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ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

An exhibition of faculty work at the Parks Exhibition Center–with   an opening on Monday evening.
A Faculty slide show and lecture.
A potluck dinner where you can visit with the instructors and the   other students enrolled in Metals Week.
An end of the week student exhibition where all the work   produced during the week will be displayed.

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Metals Week Workshops
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Enriching Surfaces
Pauline Warg

June 28–July 2
Course # AAJW ØØA
One-week session

There are a myriad of ways to add interest to your metal surfaces. This class will explore many of those techniques and allow students to add their own creativity to enhance and add excitement to their jewelry and metal work.

The class will start with the techniques of chasing, matting and stamping. These decorative surface techniques are applied using small hand tools, striking them with hammers onto annealed metal making impressions to express each individual’s unique style. Chasing can be used as an incising technique, which can then be filled with silver solder, giving the illusion of intricate inlay. Chasing, matting and stamping impressions may also be used in the rolling mill with another piece of sheet metal to create a raised reverse roll design.

Using combinations of non precious metals (copper, brass, bronze and nickel) students will be taught to combine these metals, sometimes with silver, to create patterned sheet metal of many variations. These methods will include puzzle fitting, twisted wire patterned sheet, inlay and false inlay.
Each topic will be taught by giving a lecture on the technique, demonstrations, then hands on by students. There will be additional handouts for each student to have as a reference when the week is over. Trouble shooting and problem solving will be covered.

Some additional carving and embellishing techniques will be covered as time allows (Keum-boo, file carving directly on metal, hammer textures, file and bur textures). We will also explore ways to use these decorative surfaces. Since many of these techniques allow limited soldering for fabrication, a variety of cold connections will be taught.

Materials: Download Materials List

Tuition: $625
Lab fee: $45 (Includes use of specialized tools, silver solder, specific fluxes, some non precious metal sheet and wire, use of instructor’s tools, consumable materials such as paper, pens, templates). The instructor will have many materials and some tools for purchase during the class.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

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Exploring Enameling
Linda Darty

June 28–July 2
Course # AAJW ØØ-B
One-week session

Enameling, the art of fusing glass onto metal, dates back to the 13th century BC! Though in those days when the artisans found and ground their own glass, and fired in ovens that they took hours and hours to heat up and cool, the techniques were extremely labor intensive and complex. Contemporary materials and methods offer artists unlimited possibilities for using layers of transparent or opaque glass in simple ways, firing kilns that heat up quickly and fuse the glass in 3 minutes or more, and using enamel materials that mimic paint, chalks with simple application techniques. In this class you will discover how to enamel using a variety of contemporary techniques, adding rich color, texture and imagery to metalwork in ways that are personal and expressive.

A lot of information about many different enameling techniques will be taught during this week, and students can choose to explore those that they like best. A basic introduction to enameling will be presented which includes preparation of opaque and transparent colors, dry sifting and wet inlaying techniques as well as experimental approaches with liquid enamels. We will learn to use sifted, stenciled and sgraffito techniques in combination with foils, underglazes, water colors, painting enamels, and decal papers. Wet inlay and layering of transparent colors can be learned while creating small cloisonné jewelry pieces on either copper or fine silver. Simple approaches to champleve enameling will also be discussed. Students might choose to focus on only one or two processes, or to make samples of many different techniques, creating a rich resource for future research. We will learn how to create beautiful matte finishes on enamel, as well as explore metal fabrication as it relates to enameling. Conversations will include soldering before, during, and after enameling as well as cold connections and setting options.

The goal in this course is to demystify enameling so that each student can use it freely to create work that is inventive and personally satisfying. It is my hope that students will learn how many diverse effects can be achieved with glass on metal, discovering new and exciting ways to add stunning color to metal work! Instruction will be given for all levels of students.

Materials: Downlod Materials List

Tuition: $625
Lab fee: $45 (Includes use of tools, equipment and consumables such as solder, compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools but they must be clearly marked. Some metal will be available for purchase in the class.

Enrollment limited to 12 students

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Experimenting with Surface
Brigid O'Hanrahan

June 28–July 2
Course # AAJW ØØC
One-week session

Fusing and granulation are easy, fun and will enhance your soldering skills. This workshop will cover basic techniques of fusing and granulation using fine silver (and 22k gold if you wish to work with gold). You will learn basic techniques including making and sorting granules; fusing sheet, wire and granules to sheet; and making a fused bead for granulation. The workshop will include time to integrate the information on these processes with your own designs. We will also cover classical Roman chains with fused links.
Fusing and granulation can be a way of creating classically organized geometric patterns or can be an experimentally free-form way of joining metals to make a relief surface. We will explore both ways of working during the workshop. The class will begin with making and sorting granules and fusing a small number of wire links for a basic classical chain (an introduction to basic chain making will be included). The techniques of fusing and granulation will be introduced by using experimentation with sheet, wire and granules, and will continue with granulation on hollow forms. Students will then choose which aspects of the process they want to explore more deeply in relation to their own work.

Instruction will be given for all levels of students; however, intermediate and advanced students will be able to exploit the techniques more fully.

Materials: Download Materials List

Tuition: $625
Lab fee: $45 (Includes the use of all tools, equipment, and consumables such as solder and compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools – but they must be clearly marked. Some metal will be available for purchase in class.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

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The Mighty Mill
Deborah E. Love Jemmott

June 28–July 2 Course # AAJW ØØD
One-week session

The Rolling Mill–some of you have one in your studio–many of you have access to one in classes you take. But do you really know all the techniques that can be accomplished with a mill?

The week will begin with an exploration of some basic techniques and the proper ways to accomplish them. You will learn how to make sheet and wire thinner (there are more tricks than you think), how to change the shapes of wires and how to taper wire for “pre-forging.”

The class will then take you step-by-step through the roller printing process including information on the various items that can be printed and embossed. We will explore how to print paper, feathers, leaves, and other “found” textures. You will also make your own patterns to print using several different methods.

Some of the more obscure rolling mill techniques will be covered with demos and lectures–and the ambitious student may have time to accomplish samples of several of them. These techniques include:

• Basic Fold Forming
• Mock Married Metal
• Twisted Wire Laminations
• Mokume Gane

The emphasis of this class will be on learning a wide variety of mill techniques and making pieces of metal for future use–not on making a finished piece. Instruction will also be given in the proper care and maintenance of the mill.

Instruction will be given for all levels of students; however, intermediate and advanced students will be able to exploit the techniques more fully.

Materials: Download Materials List

Tuition: $625
Lab fee: $45 (Includes the use of all tools, equipment, and consumables such as solder and compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools – but they must be clearly marked. Some metal will be available for purchase in class.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

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Textile Techniques in Metal
Arline Fisch

June 28–July 2
Course # AAJW ØØE
One-week session

This is an intensive workshop covering a broad range of textile structures which can be used in metal, including weaving, braiding, knitting, crochet and basketry. Slides and demonstrations will be followed by the making of small samples in thin sheet metal and small gauge wire as an introduction to various processes. Each sample will be a complete unit with edges and surfaces finished in a manner appropriate to the specific technique. Materials used will include copper, brass, aluminum and silver.

Weaving
1. Flat patterns in two colors
• Single sheet warp, single element weft
• Pattern weave with assembled warp
• Shaped warp and weft
• Small woven box

2. Textured weaves in sheet and wire
• Single sheet warp, continuous wire weft
• Shaped sheet warp, curved or radial

Plaiting
1. Flat braids in narrow metal strips
• Six or eight strand flat braid
• Zigzag braid
• Fishtail braid

2. Dimensional braids in strips
• Two strand braid
• Four strand braid

3. Plaited basket forms using strips
• 4 sided plaited basket over a block
• Free form basket

4. Braided structures in wire
• Flat braid using multiple strands
• Dimensional spiral braids

Knitting
1. Spool Knitting

Crochet
1. Basic Stitches
• Linear and circular patterns
• Three dimensional assembled forms

2. Hairpin Lace

Basketry
1. Twining

2. Coiling

No prior fiber or metalworking experience is required.

Materials: Download Materials List

Tuition: $625
Lab fee: $50 (Includes all materials including sheet metal and coated copper wires needed to complete the samples.) Students must bring their own tools.

Enrollment limited to 20 students.

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See the Adult Courses page for descriptions of additional jewelry workshops offered June 29 - July 24.

Intermediate Glass Beadmaking - Heather Trimlett
Sew Charming - Ruth Rae
Silver Metal Clay: Hollow Forms - Jonna Faulkner
Etching - Deborah E. Love Jemmott
Hopi Jewelry - Michael Kabotie
Navajo Inlay Jewelry - Richard Tsosie

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See the
Summer Event Calendar for a complete list of campus events.

Daily Schedule
9-Noon            Workshop
Noon-1pm        Lunch
1-4 pm            Workshop
4:30-5:30pm    Inter-class Open Studios
Evenings          Lectures, Activities, Etc.

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Tuition
Please refer to individual workshop descriptions for tuition and lab fees.

Refer to the Adult Housing page for on-campus housing and meal options.