Jewelry & Metals
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Coordinator, Deborah Jemmott
June 24-28, 2012
Overview
Metals Week 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 new techniques and create 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 24 and run through Thursday, June 28. You will have the opportunity to work with one of six outstanding jewelers/metalsmiths – but in addition, you will have the opportunity to sign up for two lecture/demos from other instructors teaching during the week. This is a time for you to attend a lecture/demo, examine samples, ask questions and visit with instructors teaching other Metals Week workshops. This schedule offers the opportunity for a rich and well-rounded experience with intensive studies focusing in the area and with the instructor you have chosen.
Other activities during the week include:
• Exhibition of faculty work and opening reception
• Faculty slide show & lectures
• Potluck dinner
• Auction
• End-of-the-week student exhibition
June 24-28
Course # AAJW ØØA
One-week session
The saw and solder style of Champlevé enameling introduces the use of color for design with more of a visible framework of metal for striking visual effect. Students will design pendants or earrings according to the directives given them by the instructor. Piercing the designs and soldering the pierced sheet to a solid sheet creates cavities or cells, into which powdered glass enamel will be applied and fused to the metal.
Students will learn how to design successfully for this process as well as how to complete each step of the champlevé enamel technique. This includes the technique of depletion gilding, the principles of enameling, washing enamels, wet packing, color shading and use of color, firing and finishing the enameled pieces. Comprehensive information on health, safety and problem solving will be provided.
Students must be able to use a jeweler’s saw with some accuracy. Some silver soldering experience will be helpful. No enameling experience necessary.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
June 24-28
Course # AAJW ØØB
One-week session
In this class, students will learn how to etch various metals to create custom imagery in metal. Through the exploration of a variety of resists and alternatives of the toner resist process, students will create etched metal that can be used as the basis for fabricated designs.
The instructor will discuss the appropriate kinds of artwork for etching and create small, simple designs using patterned paper and other images from various sources. That artwork will be developed into various resists for the etching process. Instruction will be given for both table etching and spray etching.
Students will etch samples using copper, brass and nickel alloys at various depths: shallow, deep and through. Deeply etched dies will be used to roll print onto metal and other materials.
The instructor will demonstrate making copper/silver bi-metal that can be etched and then used to create fabricated pieces. The instructor will also demonstrate several patinas: black, brown and red patina on copper and copper clad bi-metal.
This course is designed for intermediate level students. Silver soldering experience and basic knowledge of sawing and filing would be helpful to accomplish more in this class.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $680
Lab Fee: $60 (Includes use of instructor’s tools and supplies, handouts and some metals and materials.)
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
Examining the Brooch
June 24-28
Course # AAJW ØØC
One-week session
The brooch is a unique element of personal expression that can encompass an endless array of form and style; it can be narrative or ornamental, simple or complex. In this fabrication-intensive class, we will create multiple brooches, exploring a variety of setting methods that can be used to set found objects, stones, enamels, other pieces of metal, etc. Learn the process for fabricating at least 3 styles of pin back mechanisms as well as many creative variations. Addressing both soldered and cold-connected elements, we will also focus on enhancing the back of the brooch using surface embellishments to make the back just as interesting and personalized as the front. Students of all levels are welcome.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $680
Lab Fee: $45 (Includes: heavy gauge copper wire, variety of brass and copper wire, stain-less steel pin back wire, and brass tubing, and the use of consumable materials-solders, fluxes, sandpaper, etc.) Students should bring their own metals and hand tools – but they must be clearly marked. The instructor may have some materials and supplies available for purchase during class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
Tom McCarthyJune 24-28
Course # AAJW ØØD
One-week session
Anything can and should be made into jewelry. Sometimes all it takes is a sideways movement from a traditional technique to incorporate unusual materials. Rather than focus on why certain materials/objects won’t work as jewelry let’s make them work.
We will discuss formal fabrication techniques, cold connections and adhesives as a springboard to using non-traditional materials as ornament. A focal point will be using concrete in jewelry applications but don’t stop there. Bring anything and everything you would be interested in making wearable.
Is jewelry for celebrating and flaunting the precious? What is precious and why? Can the mundane be precious if treated as such? This is a class in thinking, experimentation and saying “yes” – if you conceive it, you can make it.
This is an advanced beginner/intermediate class. A basic knowledge of soldering and hand tool use is required.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $680
Lab fee: $55 (Includes the use of specialized tools and some consumable materials – solders, fluxes, sandpaper, etc.) Students should bring their own metals and hand tools – but they must be clearly marked. The instructor may have some materials and supplies available for purchase during class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
Soldering Bootcamp
June 24-28
Course # AAJW ØØE
One-week session
Learning confidence in soldering is the secret to fabrication.
This class is designed to help you learn all the basic solder techniques and some of the tricky ones as well! Build proficiency in the soldering process through an understanding of soldering equipment, different gasses, studio set-up and torches. Learn all about the different solders, the variety in temperatures from various manufacturers and how to maximize the full range of solders beyond the basic hard, medium and easy.
Explore pick soldering, chip soldering, and stick soldering. Karen will also cover how to solder tricky findings on pieces, how to solder on metal clay and how to fuse metal. There will be ample time for you to practice pieces for different styles and learn the proper layout for work with multiple soldering operations. Repetition will reinforce your skill set and you will walk away with a greater understanding of how metal heats and why.
There will be a final project employing all of the soldering types. This includes a hollow form, textured brooch, pendant or earrings which contains a stone and gold appliqué.
You should be able to walk away from this class not only with a piece of jewelry, but with the confidence to tackle any soldering problem you encounter.
Students of all levels are welcome. Some silver soldering experience and basic knowledge of sawing and filing would be helpful to accomplish more in class.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.Lab Fee: $95 (Includes a kit containing silver, copper, brass, solder and other materials needed for the solder lessons, and the use of instructor’s tools and supplies. )The instructor will have a variety of stones, metals and other tools for purchase during class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
Innovative Stone Setting
June 24-28
Course # AAJW ØØF
One–week session
This class will explore the innovative possibilities of setting stones. The instructor will cover how to integrate and securely set odd-shaped stones into your jewelry designs. Unusual techniques, not usually associated with stone setting, will be covered. You will learn:
• How to make and use special stone setting punches
• How to set stones in thick sterling silver bezels
• How to create and set stones in hollow tube ferrule setting
• How to use diamond burrs for drilling holes and adjusting stone sets• How to use stonesetter’s helpers
• How to use dental material to create organic bezels for holding odd shaped stones
This course is designed for intermediate level students. Silver soldering experience and basic knowledge of sawing and filing would be helpful to accomplish more in this class.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $680
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
July 14-16
Course # AAJC Ø1
Three-day session
Creating dramatic focal elements for necklaces is both challenging and lots of fun. In this workshop, we will explore a variety of approaches to making “statement” focal pieces, including framing devices, the use of multiples and the development of themes.
Art Clay Copper will be the primary material used in building our focal elements. It’s a wonderful medium for creating gorgeous jewelry at a fraction of the cost of silver metal clay. It consists of tiny molecules of copper, an organic binder and water. It works easily with simple hand tools and fires quickly in a kiln.
We will combine the fired and finished copper pieces with other materials including (but not limited to) wire, mica, photographs, paper and pearls. Students should be able to complete a set of focal elements for one or more eye-catching necklaces during this class.
A variety of construction and decorative techniques will be covered in this workshop including texturing, carving and applique-work with copper metal clay, drilling, riveting, preserving paper elements, and pearl setting.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $490
Lab Fee: $30 (Includes use of basic kits, kilns and consumable materials such as mica, copper, paper images, etc.) Art Clay Copper, pearls, and other materials, will be available for purchase in class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
July 16-20
Course # AAJF Ø2
One-week session
There is very little as satisfying as hammering on metal. The trick is knowing where and how to hammer to achieve the results you want! We will spend the week exploring how to control and create dimensional forms in metal. Sinking, stretching and forming (synclastic and anticlastic), dapping, and fold forming will be some of the techniques we will use to create interesting dimensional forms. We will also explore a variety of ways to put pieces together, including soldering as well as a variety of cold connections.
Students will have the opportunity to create finished work or to focus on technique alone and create samples to inspire future work.
Instruction will be given for students at all levels of experience, however this class is best suited for students who have some metalworking experience. Solder experience would be helpful.
Materials: A complete recommended supply and tool list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $680
Lab Fee: $55 (Includes some metals, materials for making forming blocks to take home, use of specialized tools, consumable materials such as solders, fluxes, sandpaper, etc., and use of instructors tools.) Students should bring their own metals and hand tools – but they must be clearly marked. Some materials and supplies will be available for purchase in class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
Foundology
Stephanie Lee
June 28-30
Course # AAJM ØØ
Three-day session
Join me for three days as we set out on a metalsmithing expedition of epic proportions!
With just a few basic tools strapped to our belts, we’ll don our expedition gear as we set out to bend, hammer, form, solder and explore various techniques in working with metal to unearth a soldered metal box and jewelry to go in it. Not your typical metalsmithing class, this expedition is designed to show you how to take readily accessible materials and tools to create totally original pieces
As we set out on our journey together, fresh-faced and eager, we will employ various wire wrapping and wire soldering techniques to create a three-part piece of jewelry that can be worn as a necklace with interchangeable pendants, as a triple-wrapped bracelet, or separated as a necklace and a bracelet. I will share with you my favorite tricks in my archeologist’s bag to create box pendants, found objects bezels and housings pendants, not-your-momma’s-wire wrapped pendants, link making techniques, and more. We will incorporate the found treasures from your digs to showcase their inherent beauty or transform them from plain to museum-worthy.
On the final leg of our metalsmithing expedition, we will construct a metal box to place the pieces of jewelry in. We will explore all metal boxes as well as mica-windowed boxes that allow a filtered peek of the contents within. Whether you like bright and shiny or aged and patina’d, you will unearth treasures aplenty in our metal-smithing expedition together.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $490
Lab Fee: $20 (Includes sheet brass and nickel-silver, consumable compounds, butane torches, tools and supplies for use in class.)
Enrollment limited to 20 students.
Course # NAJH ØØ
One-week session
In this workshop, students will learn the classic Hopi Overlay technique of metalsmithing, as well as Tufa Casting. Tufa is a soft porous stone used for direct casting one-of-a-kind designs. Student may combine tufa cast pieces with their overlay designs (multiple layers of sheet silver with cut-out designs, textured and oxidized recessed surfaces), or students may create separate overlay and tufa works. In addition, the instructor will demonstrate techniques for making stamping tools.
Beginning students will be introduced to the fundamental materials, processes, and techniques of silversmithing, and those with experience will be able to fine-tune their skills while mastering new techniques. Because students will be working closely with the teacher, the workshop is well-suited for students of all levels of experience.
Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.
Tuition: $680
Lab Fee: $55 (Includes pre-cut tufa, the use of all tools, equipment and consumable such as solder and compounds.) Students are encouraged to bring their own silver and hand tools, if they have them, but these items must be clearly marked. Some silver sheet will be available for purchase in class.
Enrollment limited to 12 students.
One-week session
The Navajo adopted the art of jewelry making from the Spanish after contact, taking the art to new heights and establishing a style that is now considered to be the “traditional” Navajo style. Today, there are many Navajo jewelers who are moving beyond that style, designing contemporary pieces of jewelry which reflect a new Native American reality. Artists are creating colorful collages and patterns with beautiful stones and shells set in gold and silver. In addition to turquoise and coral, it is not unusual to find lapis lazuli, purple lavulite, diamonds, pearls, malakite, jet stone, jade, melon shell and other stones, shells and gems in contemporary Native American jewelry.
Working closely with one of the leading contemporary Navajo jewelers, students will learn the techniques used to create such pieces. They will design patterns, cut, grind and prepare stones, and set the stones into basic silver forms (rings, bracelets, earrings, bolos, etc.) which they have created. Participants without prior experience in silversmithing will also be introduced to the basic concepts of shaping silver.
Tuition: $680
Lab Fee: $45 (Includes the use of all tools, equipment, and consumables such as solder and compounds. An additional charge will be made for all silver and stones used. A small selection of turquoise and other stones will be available for purchase, but students are encouraged to bring their own stones if they have preferences on colors/stone types.) Students may bring their own silver, tools, stones, and a work lamp which must be clearly marked.
Enrollment limited to 10 students.