In a CoMA (conference)

This week I am heading north to Denver and Loveland, Colorado. I have the honor of teaching a pre-conference workshop and then presenting at the Colorado Metalsmithing Association (CoMA) Conference. I will be in the company of some really talented people. Other speakers include Pat Pruitt, Haley Bates, and Andy Cooperman. I am also looking forward to seeing a lot of friends and making even more. It does my soul good to spend time with my metalsmithing community.

The workshop is Stitch and Dip. We will create volumetric forms by sewing together very thin copper sheet and stabilizing it by applying liquid enamel. I never know exactly what people are going to do with this technique and the results always open my mind to more possibilities.

My conference presentation is going to be a standard artist’s talk followed by a quick demo of the workshop techniques. There are day passes if people cannot make it to the whole weekend, and many other fun side activities planned (Trivia Night!).

Forging the future 2025 conference logo in distressed font

How about some arm candy?

There is something so satisfying about a one-day project that lets you make a little something for yourself.

Workshop flier for bracelet tutorial at the Patterson Appleton Arts Center

California dreaming

I had the most wonderful time in California! I was honored to be invited to be a "Radical Enameling" Workshop provider by the visionary Center for Enamel Arts. I taught a class on making kilns out of trash cans and the creation of vessels with sewn copper foil. The workshop was entitled "Quick and Dirty." My class happened at the same time as the delightful Kristina Glick's flux oxidation class at the Crucible Studio in Oakland. The Crucible is a temple to all things fire related, from jewelry and blacksmithing to hot glass and fire dancing. (Crucible Photos by Gail Reid)

Following the three day class and with the benevolent guidance of Judy Stone I had access to the large enameling kilns at KVO Industries. Steve Vandyke was wonderful about granting access and myself and another artist had the place almost to ourselves for three days. This made it possible to work larger than I had ever done in enamel and with new materials such as their oil-based liquids, typically used for silkscreening, but with which I painted. This opportunity was also made possible by a UNT Scholarly and Creative Activity Award. I already cannot wait to go back!

Summer Classes on Offer

I will be teaching at a diverse array of institutions this summer. Last week I had a fantastic time with Natalie Macellaio’s Metalsmithing: Plasticity Workshop at Brookhaven  College (see image below). On June 21 and 22 I will be teaching fun and simple jewelry making at UNT’s Grandparents University. Want to catch me on the East Coast? Try signing up for my Wearable Hollow Forms class at Peter’s Valley Craft Center, July 6-10. OR you could splurge for the international adventure at the Glass Furnace in Turkey outside of Istanbul to learn about Silver Surfaces (Reticulation, Granulation and Keum Boo) August 1-5. All skill levels are welcome for these fun and educational adventures in metalworking.