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A message UPDATE from BARN’s Executive Director:
Dear BARN community:
In response to updated guidance from the CDC and the Washington State Department of Health, BARN will continue to be closed through the end of April.
However, the real story is how our volunteers are stepping up with creativity and care to make a difference in our community. BARN is working with Bainbridge Prepares and COBI's Emergency Operations Center to organize volunteers who are making face masks for health care providers. Several studios have donated N95 masks and nitrile gloves that they had in stock. We are keeping our commercial kitchen available for organizations like Arms Around Bainbridge to continue to provide healthful meals to families in need. This past weekend, the Woodworking Studio designed and built outdoor food cabinets for Helpline House, so they can continue to provide food to those who need it.
In addition, we are making connections through Internet channels. BARN staff and volunteers are developing ideas for online learning and sharing. Certificate of Craft students and faculty are learning through technology: doing design work and home jewelry projects.
If you want to learn more about how you can contribute to the COVID-19 response, please contact https://www.bainbridgewa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=638
Listen to the latest BCB/BARN media arts podcast with Loren Bast of Bainbridge Prepares:https://www.bestofbcb.org/were-all-in-this-together/
Thank you for your understanding and support. I continue to welcome your questions, ideas, or concerns. Please contact me at denised@bainbridgebarn.org.
May we all remain healthy and be happily reconnecting in person, soon,
Denise M. Dumouchel, PhD Executive Director
Learn to create beautiful wirework jewelry and improve your soldering skills! Filigree jewelry is made all over the world, from Thailand to Norway to Mexico and everywhere in between. In this class, you will learn how to make these graceful and intricate pieces yourself. We will explore how to construct wire frames to create forms that are lightweight but strong. We'll then work with different soldering methods, including chip solder, paste solder, and dry powdered solder. You will leave with a pair of filigree earrings, a pendant, or both. This is an intermediate-level course; some experience with soldering is required.
Details:
Instructor: Peggy Foy received a formal training in metalsmithing from the University of Georgia, graduating with a BFA in Jewelry/Metalwork. Drawn by the vibrant arts community (and the natural beauty and ethical sensibilities of the region), Peggy relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2005. She served on the board of the Seattle Metals Guild from 2011-2018, and was its President from 2016-17. Peggy teaches at art centers throughout the Puget Sound region, and in 2020 she opened an art jewelry gallery within her Pioneer Square studio. Visit www.arcanametalwork.com for more information.
Contact: Jewelry.Lead@BainbridgeBARN.org
This workshop is all about photographing bright, shiny and tiny objects in metal or glass. We will look at lighting, backdrops, props, and the use of tripods. Students are encouraged to bring samples of their own work and we will choose a variety of items to photograph. Focus and lighting will be at the top of the discussion list.
The most common issues in photographing bright, highly reflective, small scale objects will be addressed. The instructor will set up a sample “photo shoot” for several items, and show how adjustments can be made to achieve the final photo. Students will get a chance to take photos followed by discussion of ways to resolve difficulties.
Instructor: Dinah Satterwhite is an active artist living on Bainbridge Island, Washington. She manages the regional Studio Tour, and coaches artists. She is a professional photographer and specializes in photographing artists’ work. Her work is displayed in art galleries and stores.
This 1 day workshop teaches how to easily hot burnish 24K gold foil onto silver objects. This incredibly simple designing technique was re-introduced to the West from Korea in the last twenty years. It lets you apply 24k yellow gold shapes onto silver sheet to be used for later construction, onto finished silver objects, on any gold alloy, platinum and palladium. Please bring silver sheet or finished silver jewelry, which you would like to use in practicing the Keum-boo technique.
The white silver/gold alloy Electrum can be used the same way and with liver of sulfur provides options for yellow, white and black on the same silver object. This is a really rapid, easy method of adding the richness of 24k gold to silver and gold objects.
Check out another workshop with Charles Lewton-Brain:
A Jeweler's Bench Tricks and Tool Hacks 2 sessions, Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Instructor: Charles Lewton-Brain has studied and worked as a goldsmith and artist in Europe and North America for over 40 years. He has lectured and published internationally on his research into manipulating metal and art of jewelry. He has been honored with Canada’s highest award in Craft and retired as Prof. Emeritus from the Alberta College of Art, in Calgary.
These workshops are the result of his lifelong research into technical and compositional systems in metals, as well as his art practice, conceptual research, and design skills. “My workshops are about thinking, using metalworking as compositional systems and providing deeper insights to students and professionals.” -CLB
In this 2-day workshop you will experience a collection of short cuts, bench tricks, stone-setting and polishing hints. If you are interested in homemade tools and bench tricks to speed your production or increase your understanding of goldsmithing this workshop is for you.
It is about seeing tools in new ways, solving problems and creating new solutions to tool use, processes, and technical procedures in jewelry making. Alternative equipment options and jeweler’s secrets have been gathered together representing decades of goldsmithing tricks. Cheap tool making, and unexpected sources for tools are described. With this workshop Prof. Lewton-Brain illustrates the highlights from both his book Cheap Thrills in the Toolshop and his Bench Tricks CD/DVD.
What does it take to become an art show artist?
You love making art but are wondering where and how to sell it? This in-depth class will explore the ins & outs of becoming a successful show artist.
Learn about finding shows, applying & selecting good images, creating a mobile retail store, taking credit cards, building a website, business cards, and more.
This class will have images and reference materials to help illustrate best practices, problem areas, the tripping points & successes of becoming a show artist.
Instructor: Carla Fox brings the ideal balance of fine craftsmanship and wild imagination to her work. She has been a professional metalsmith/jeweler for over 20 years and her work has been featured and won awards in top juried art shows across the country. Carla loves to teach her craft, because she is the consummate student herself. Curious from childhood about tools and techniques and with an acute attention to detail, and a bit of engineering, she inspires that same joy and exploration in her students. Her skill in fabrication techniques include: fabrication, soldering tricks, design, hollow-forms, etching. The use of varied materials and techniques can be seen in her work at: www.carlamfox.com
For the past 13 years she has been director of Art in the High Desert Art Show in Bend, Oregon- www.artinthehighdesert.com. AHD has been rated in the top 20 shows for sales for the last five years.Before that she was the director of a Portland, Oregon art guild’s show and sale-for 3 years, and helped produce an all-metals show with the Portland metals guild. Between doing shows and running a top-rated show, she knows this business from both sides of the booth.
This class has prerequisites, please see below.
Build a bomb-proof box clasp and improve fabrication skills while learning techniques that will move your construction and precision skills up a level.
These aren’t just any ol’ box clasps. These are solid, adaptable to many shapes, and require no back-up clasp. This box clasp will not accidentally release. The clasp can be put into hollow forms to add a whole new dimension to your work. The new skills will push your metal-smithing to a whole new height. There is emphasis on precision measuring, cutting, filing and soldering.
Electro-etching is a fabulous low-tech and low-cost way to add design and dimension to a flat sheet of metal. You'll choose a design from a selection provided, transfer it to copper sheet, etch the metal (re-purposed phone chargers are involved - very cool!), cut out your earrings or pendant, and dome your pieces before finishing them. Side effects will almost certainly include: many compliments on your new jewelry, and addiction to the art of electro-etching! Beginners welcome.
Please wear closed-toe shoes. Wear hearing protectors when warranted and safety glasses; bring your own or use BARN's. Tie back long hair. Avoid loose-fitting clothing and jewelry; roll up sleeves.
Instructor: Julia Lowther Growing up in Monteverde, Costa Rica, my hands were always busy with embroidery, crochet, weaving, and other fiber arts. I moved to Seattle in 1996, discovered metal, and quickly gravitated to chains -- an appealing transformation of stiff, unruly wire into flexible structures of satisfying weight. The manual dexterity gained from decades of needlework translated neatly to working at a jewelry scale. I believe the craft arts have immense value. They are the best and finest expressions of the alliance between our big brains and our opposable thumbs. Fine craft is living art, coming down off the walls, taking to the streets, making every day artful and special, and inviting people to join the community and become makers themselves.
In this 4 session class, students will learn the process of lost wax casting. From carving wax to centrifugal casting, we will cover all the basics of the casting process.
Session 1- Carving wax
Session 2 - Carving wax (spring and investing done by instructors after class)
Session 3 - Casting and clean up
Session 4 - Finishing your cast piece
Students will be provided with wax, tools, and bronze to cast with. Students can bring scrap sterling silver to cast with and BARN will have some available for purchase (please bring cash or check made out to BARN).
Instructor Bio:
Maggie McVey received her Bachelors of Fine Arts, concentration in sculpture, from the University of North Florida in 2016. While in school, she participated in her first iron pour in 2011. Since then she has participated in over 10 iron pours (including at the International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art in 2018), as well as multiple bronze and aluminum pours.
Jody Lyle is a goldsmith with over 25 years of experience designing and making jewelry. She has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas where she studied with world-renowned enamel artist Harlan Butt. She has continued here education over the years with apprenticeships, trade school training, and skill building classes. She believes in learning by doing, and continues to home her skills, practicing and acquiring new techniques from other jewelers and is continually expanding the definition of her jewelry.
Contact: Jewelry.Programming@BainbridgeBARN.org
Session 1 - Learn how to make a fun assortment of polymer clay beads in this session of the jewelry studio’s kids camp. Suited for ages 8 to 12 and no experience needed.
Session 2 - Learn how to make a fun assortment of recycled paper beads in this session of the jewelry studio’s kids camp. Suited for ages 8 to 12 and no experience needed.
Session 3 - Learn how to make a memory wire beaded bracelet in this session of the jewelry studio’s kids camp. Suited for ages 8 to 12 and no experience needed.
Session 4 - Learn how to use the stamping tools to personalize a pendant necklace in this session of the jewelry studio’s kids camp. Suited for ages 8 to 12 and no experience needed.
Come see what you can create in BARN's Jewelry Studio!
Instructor Bio: Sarah Jones is a local Bainbridge Island artist and jeweler with a background in ceramics, sculpture, stained glass, and photography. Her journey into metal arts and jewelry started in a beginner class gifted to her by her family. Completely hooked, she continued to take every class available to her while also assisting teachers, shadowing and learning from some of the PNW’s best.
When she’s not in her studio making her own art or spending time with her family, she enjoys teaching students from 8 to 80 years old, passing on what she has learned to new metal art/jewelry enthusiasts, introducing them to the trade’s skills and opportunities.
Sarah's current work can be viewed on Instagram @sarahjonesjewelry
This 4 day class is designed for teens 14-18, no experience needed.
Students will be introduced to basic tools of the trade like the jewelers saw, disc cutters, metal stamps and the foredom flex shaft to name a few. Students will learn through demonstration and hands on practice. On completion of this class students should feel confident and comfortable using the studio space during open studio hours to practice their new skills.
One of our most popular instructors, Sue Skelly, is back at BARN with a new workshop that is bound to delight participants -- Woven Treasure Necklaces.
Start collecting your personal treasures! Buttons, beads, small keys, single earrings, bones, small rocks with holes, charms -- whatever delights you and you want to include in this keepsake necklace. A concept for a color scheme or theme is a good idea as you prepare for Sue's workshop.
About a month before the workshop, you will have the opportunity for a phone consultation with Sue Skelly to discuss your themes for your necklace. Sue will use your ideas to put together the additional materials to add to your necklace.
Specialized techniques you will learn are weaving eight cords at a time, dropping one cord, adding loops of beads and growing the necklace to a centerpiece and then reducing to an end and making a knotted clasp.
Students should bring: Buttons, beads, small keys, single earrings, bones, small rocks with holes, charms, and other things you treasure and want to include in your necklace. Think about a color scheme in deciding what to bring to class.
Instructor Bio: Sue works with our native Western Red Cedar and vintage buttons. She even manages to combine the two in some of her pieces.
Cedar is her soul work and let’s her get out in the woods to collaborate and harvest sustainably what the tree generously offers.Her work is a contemporary approach on cedar with garden structures and interior 3D sculptures and wall hangings. She has spent 30 years preparing the roots,branches, bark and even old cedar rails for her work. Much of her work is commissioned.
Old buttons are by far a big part of her life long collecting bug. It was hard for her to part with them when she first began to create pieces to sell. Seeing other people connect to her button necklaces changed that. Each of these are made entirely from a beautiful collection of materials from a by-gone era; mother of pearl, horn, porcelain, bone,and vegetable ivory to name a few. Most are double sided. The really elaborate pieces are a made with a woven threads technique combining all shapes and sizes of buttons and many other objects with holes to create the design.
Her work has been published in many garden books and magazines nationally. She sells her work at her studio in Poulsbo by appointment and during Art in the Woods. Her work is also available at Front Street Gallery in Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island Studio Tour, Indianola Holiday Sale and the RAGS show in Tacoma.
This class is for beginners and people who want to revisit their drawing skills. This class will be useful to you whatever your discipline.
Instructor: Michael Gunderson moved to Bainbridge after a thirty-plus year career in California Public education. His degree is in the arts and has taught classes in art, jewelry, ceramics and the trades, as well as serving as an activities and athletic director. He has always found a great pleasure in communicating with young people.
He thinks of himself as a person who solves visual problems. He proposes a situation and looks to openly create a visual answer, whether it be paint, wood or combinations of media. He is not political in his work - not even angry. He's looking for the fun and the whacky.
BARN will be closed and the front and back doors locked down to both Members and Non-Members beginning at 7:00 PM on Friday night as we begin preparations for the Bazaar at BARN.
Doors will reopen to all on Saturday, at 8:00 AM.
If you have questions, please contact Carla our Membership Coordinator at Membership@bainbridgebarn.org.
BARN members wishing to participate in this event must be a member for a minimum of 3 months (must join by August 31st) to participate. You can contact Carla Mackey at membership@bainbridgebarn.org for an application which will be available TBD.
Have you ever built a project and then been disappointed by the design result? By making quick, easy scaled models first, you can play around with different design solutions and settle on one that incorporates your favorite elements — before you embark on building the full-size project in wood, metal or other materials. Scaled models are also useful for artists working on projects such as books with popup or fold-out elements.
Designing anything in three dimensions really benefits from using three-dimensional models. In this two-session class, you will learn how to build scaled physical models that are classic 3-D design aids. You'll be working mostly with paper, card stock and basswood, and you will be encouraged to modify your models as you experiment with design and technique.
This two session class covers:
At the first session, you will learn about the tools and materials and make a simple model of a project suggested by the instructor. At the second session, you will make models and experiment with design options for a project of your own choosing. The overriding principle is to have fun both in making models as well as discovering how to further refine your design.
Instructor: Alec Vassiliadis studied models from a very young age. He built lots of scale models of planes, cars and boats, and painted, altered and sometimes destroyed them. "So, naturally, I gravitated to architectural school, where I excelled at building models," he said. After working as an architect for about a year, he gave up on paper as a medium of design and fell back into building models. It did not take long before he was turning his life passion into a profession. He has been building models for architects and industrial designers for the past 40 years.
