Friday, February 22

Dean Adams speaking at Yuma Symposium.

~Connie

All images and text are ©Copyright 2010-2013 Connie Fox except where indicated. All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 21

Lute’s Casino

Welded steel bird made by Rick Hartner. Rick donated a flock for the Friday night silent auction.

Welded steel birds made by Rick Hartner.

~Connie

All images and text are ©Copyright 2010-2013 Connie Fox except where indicated. All rights reserved.

Greetings!

This is one of my samples for the Creative Cuffs class I am teaching at Idyllwild Arts’, Metals Week. Anticlastic forming and hollow forms are two skills used to make the cuff.

What is Metals Week? Think 5 day jewelry camp for adults. You choose from a group of 6 instructors to focus on developing a particular set of skills. Please see below for Deb Jemmott’s more detailed description.

When is Metals Week? June 16-20th

Where is Metals Week: It is held at Idyllwild Arts in Idyllwild, CA. Idyllwild is located in the mountains about 2 hours from San Diego and Los Angeles.

Registration begins: Friday, February 1st, 2013. Metals Week information will be posted on the website soon. You will find it under Summer Program at www.idyllwildarts.org

How do you register? Call Diane Dennis at 951-659-2171, ext 2365

Cost: The class fees are listed below. Housing fees will be posted on the website.

Housing: You can stay on or off campus. Dorm information will be on the website. If you want to stay in a cabin off campus do a search for Idyllwild Vacation Rentals.

Metals Week Coordinator: Deborah Jemmott

This is what Deb Jemmott says about Metals Week:

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 other 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 16 and run through Thursday, June 20. 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

Chasing & Repoussé
Nancy Megan Corwin
June 16–20, One-week session
Course # AAJW ØØA

This workshop will delve into the exciting, ancient and universal processes of chasing and repoussé on non-ferrous metals such as copper, brass and silver. The term repoussé refers to forming sheet metal from the backside with rounded steel, brass, plastic or wood punches to create raised areas on the front side in low to high relief. Chasing refers to detailing the front side of the piece using tools with specific shapes and sharper edges to texture, stamp, undercut and refine the surface of the metal.

We will be working traditionally with pitch (a pine-resin based material) to support the metal while hammering. Non-traditional methods that make multiples easier to accomplish will be covered, including die forming, using plasticene to support the metal and filling the form with low temperature thermoplastic.

Students will make at least one chasing tool, several technique samplers and one or more finished pieces.

Students of all levels are welcome. Some 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: $715

Lab fee: $55 (Includes Faux Bone, special blades, and the materials for tool making. In addition, it 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.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Nancy Megan Corwin is a jeweler/metalsmith, teacher and writer in the fields of contemporary and historic art metals. In 2009 Megan produced a process and gallery book on the techniques of chasing and repoussé, titled Chasing and Repoussé: Methods Ancient and Modern. She has an MFA in art metals from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has taught in universities, colleges, and art centers for over 35 years. In 2009 Ornament Magazine did a feature story on her work, including her studio practices. Her work is in private collections and in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the State University of New Mexico Art Gallery at Las Cruces, and the Tacoma Art Museum, WA. She shows at Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle, WA. www.nancymegancorwin.com

Creating Cuffs
Connie Fox
June 16–20, One-week session
Course # AAJW ØØB

From the start I loved making cuffs. They are a perfect foundation upon
which to express creativity. In this class you will learn a variety of ways to construct the cuff foundation taking into account functionality, fit, and aesthetic appeal. Methods of embellishment will be covered including prong setting stones, forming acrylic, piercing, heat texturing, roller printing, corrugation and cold connections.

Students will be encouraged to approach cuffs from their own creative point of view. Metals Week is the ideal time to stretch into new design and fabrication possibilities.

Basic fabrication and soldering skills are required. Projects can be
tailored to your skill level. Students with beginning skills are welcome.

Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.

Tuition: $715

Lab fee: $50 (Includes brass and copper tubing, acrylic, polishing cloths, brass and silver bolts, copper wire, and consumables such as, honeycomb fire bricks, rolling mill textures, steel wool, wax, patinas, adhesive, drill bits, solvent, lubricant, flux, sandpaper, and use of instructor’s tools and equipment.) Students should bring their own metals (including silver solder and silver tubing if desired), hand tools, flex shaft accessories (basics available in class), a rivet block (2 available for use in class) any embellishments to incorporate into your cuff, and flat bottomed stone(s) for prong setting.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Connie Fox is a studio jeweler in San Diego, California. She teaches workshops in her studio and in the past taught through San Diego Community College District and in venues across the US. She studied metalsmithing primarily from Deb Jemmott. Connie’s work has been published in books and magazines such as Metal Style, Jewelry Artist, and Art Jewelry. Her first love in jewelry making is design, a class she has been teaching for the last 5 years. She works with students to discover, refine and assert their own aesthetic.

Nunome Zogan – The Gentle Art of Tapping
Fred Zweig
June 16–20, One-week session
Course # AAJW ØØC

This workshop will be an introduction to the fascinating and intricate world of Japanese damascene. Nunome Zogan was traditionally used to decorate parts of the Japanese swords. When the making of these swords was banned, the craftsmen directed their skill to the creation of decorative items for export. There has been much interest in this method of surface decoration for use in contemporary jewelry. Fred has collected examples and used them to study and understand the steps required to overlay gold, silver & copper onto iron.

This workshop will provide time for each student to complete several small samples of decorated iron. We will also explore options of how to
incorporate these samples into your own designs and work. Students will
learn to shape and sharpen the tool provided for the workshop, draw the wire and roll the silver and gold necessary to complete the projects. We will spend time examining historic examples to better understand the skills being practiced to create this unique decorative process. We will also learn some of the simple methods to darken the iron allowing the stark contrast so prominent in this technique.

The results of this fascinating process can be mesmerizing and relatively easy to accomplish. All levels welcome.

Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.

Tuition: $715

Lab fee: $40 (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.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Fred Zweig, self taught metalsmith practicing since the early 1970’s, has been involved with teaching others for nearly 30 years and has a sincere passion for the process of metalworking and all of its traditions and possibilities. His desire to give homage to those who preceded him and his desire for information have led him to moderate several historical metal forums including the Society of American Silversmiths and Society of Arts & Crafts website. A creative innovator of materials and tools to create unique designs, Fred has attended and assisted in many workshops in metal and other media. He is currently involved in forging neck collars for retailers and producing a line of unique pins and pendants using techniques he has
developed.

The Rolling Mill – Exploring a Creative Tool
Sandra Noble Goss
June 16–20, One-week session
Course # AAJW ØØD

Although the rolling mill was originally intended as a tool for reducing the thickness of metal and wire, in the hands of a studio jeweler it becomes a versatile, multi-purpose tool for texturing, laminating and shaping metal. In this course, students will explore some of the creative techniques possible with the mill. In addition to imprinting metal with designs using paper, found objects, and metal (including pierced and etched metal patterns), students will learn to produce the “married metal” Multi-Metal Lamination (metal overlay) and other useful techniques. This course will demonstrate how the rolling mill can expand the metalsmith’s technical vocabulary with a range of new finishes and textures, including highly graphic imagery, background pattern, texture and “painterly” effects.

This course is appropriate for jewelry students of all levels–beginner as well as intermediate and advanced. Some experience with sawing, polishing and soldering is useful, but not essential. Students are encouraged to experiment with the forms and techniques. Students can expect to have one finished piece of jewelry or a collection of finished samples; the emphasis will be on experimentation.

Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.

Tuition: $715

Lab fee: $65 Each student will be provided with a kit with enough metal
(primarily copper, brass and bronze) to make a sample of each technique and form. Students are encouraged to bring their own metal and tools. The lab fee also includes use of the consumables used in the course. The instructor will have only a limited amount of material for purchase. For students who have their own metal supply, it is suggested they bring sheet metal and wire of copper, brass, bronze or sterling.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Sandra Noble Goss has been a jewelry and metal artist since graduating from George Brown College in Toronto in 1973. Her jewelry studies began at Hornsey College of Art in London, England; she has a BA from York University, Toronto. Sandra is a partner of Goss Design Studio with her husband in Owen Sound, Ontario. She has exhibited widely in jewelry and craft exhibitions, juried shows, and solo shows. Her jewelry is hand made using traditional techniques and her metals of choice are sterling silver, brass, copper and bronze. For 20 years, Sandra was a part-time jewelry instructor in Georgian College’s jewelry program. In addition she taught at summer programs at the Haliburton School of the Arts and Idyllwild Arts.

A Fresh Look at Spiculums
Betty Helen Longhi
June 16–20, One-week session
Course # AAJW ØØE

A spiculum is a tapered tube made from a flat sheet of metal. They are
usually made by a process of forming similar to that which is used for
traditional tube making. The resulting product is an elegant tubular form that can be bent in various ways after the seam is soldered. But this is just the beginning; what would happen if the pattern was irregular so when the edges came together, the seam line became curved? What about synclasticly forming the metal pattern before closing it into a tube? What if you anticlasticly form the spiculum and leave the seam open? Or how about combining synclastic and anticlastic areas in the same spiculum and closing it into a vessel form? In this workshop, we will address the basic forming processes and move beyond them to experiment with these additional options. In this new arena there are endless possibilities for making bracelets,
collars, earrings, beads, vessels and abstract sculptural forms.

The workshop is appropriate for all metals students but some experience in forming metal would be helpful.

Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.

Tuition: $715

Lab fee: $65 (Includes Metal–one 6x12x22ga and one 6x6x24ga nugold, maple spiculum block, consumable materials–solders, fluxes, sandpaper, etc., and wood blocks for forming.) Students should bring their own hand tools – but they must be clearly marked. The instructor will have a large selection of hammers and stakes available for purchase during class.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Betty Helen Longhi is a nationally recognized metalsmith who creates finely crafted jewelry and sculpture. A master craftsman, she incorporates various texturing techniques with forging, shell forming and die forming in her pieces. Betty’s work has been exhibited at the Virginia Museum, Delaware Art Museum, American Craft Museum, South East Center for Contemporary Art, the Renwick Gallery Museum Shop and The Greenhill Center for North Carolina Art as well as numerous retail galleries. She has received a number of awards including an Individual Artist Fellowship funded by the Delaware State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. She has been a guest artist at the Univ. of Wisconsin, the Maryland Institute of Art and RIT School for
American Crafts, and has taught at Haystack, Penland, Parsons School of
Design, Peters Valley Craft Center and more. She maintains a studio and
retail sales space in her lakeside home near Lexington, NC.

Surface Design & Fabrication
Deb Karash
June 16–20, One-week session
Course # AAJW ØØF

Five Days, Five Projects, Ten Techniques. This workshop will spend five days exploring surface design and fabrication techniques which will be combined to create five pieces of jewelry: stylish pins, pendants, cuff bracelet and earrings.

We will cover the following:

• texturing
• rivets
• using paste solder
• proper placement of findings
• fitting layers without measuring
• forming
• forging small parts
• other techniques

This class is appropriate for all levels. Emphasis will be placed on design and finishing.

Materials: A complete materials list will be sent upon registration.

Tuition: $715

Lab fee: $40 (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.

Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Deb Karash is originally from Illinois where she earned an MA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from Northern Illinois University. She now lives in the mountains of North Carolina. A full time studio jeweler, Deb sells her work at galleries throughout the US and Canada and teaches workshops. She is a founding member of Flow, an artists co-op in Marshall, NC. Her free time is spent renovating their new home in Asheville and traveling.

~Connie

All images and text are ©Copyright 2010-2013 Connie Fox except where indicated. All rights reserved.