Metals
The Multnomah Arts Center offers jewelry and metals arts classes for adults and youth year round. Below is a listing of class offerings. Begin with our foundation series, designed to give students the essential skills they need to become professional metalsmiths. Additional classes and workshops ranging from one day to ten weeks offer the student a wide variety of techniques to augment their skills. Access to all tools and supplies needed for basic projects are included. Come by to pick up a schedule that includes dates of current classes and workshops. Below is a listing of some of our typical class offerings.
Metals Coordinator: Nicole Rawlins
Foundation Series
For Teens & Adults
METALSMITHING I- Introdcution to Fabrication
Explore fundamentals of fabrication with nonferrous metals such as copper, brass, and sterling silver. Gain experience in sawing, filing, silver (torch) soldering, polishing, and basic patination. Chain-making and the elements of design will also be introduced. No prerequisite.
METALSMITHING II- Surface & Dimension
Build fabrication skills and explore decorative and alternative surfaces, including roller-printing, etching, and depletion gilding. Focus on adding a third dimension to fabricated pieces, with instruction on building hollow forms, including the use of the hydraulic press. Prerequisite Metalsmithing I or equivalent.
METALSMITHING III- Findings & Mechanisms
Add movement to your work with hinges and other basic mechanisms. Jewelry findings are covered in-depth, including the use of commercial findings and fabricating your own clasps, bails, and earring hardware. Cold connections-rivets, tabs, and threaded attachments, are also covered. Prerequisite: Metalsmithing I or equivalent.
JEWELRY AND METAL ARTS YOUTH CLASSES & WORKSHOPS ALSO AVAILABLE.
Classes & Workshops
For Teens & Adults
- Basic and Advanced Fabrication
- Cold Connections
- Forging
- Synclastic & Anticlasting Forming
- Chasing & Repoussé
- Surface Treatments (etching, reticulation, granulation, patination, keum-boo, etc.)
- Stone Setting (bezels, prongs, tube, flush, pavé, gypsy, etc.)
- Anodizing
- Electroforming
- Casting (lost wax, found object/nature, mold-making, etc.)
- Finishing
- Boxes & Lockets
- Production Design
- Hydraulic Press Forming
- Flex Shaft Skills
- Metal Clay
- Chain-Making
- Enameling
- Tinkering
- Concept Development & Critique
- Tool Making, Repair, & Maintenance
- Business Practices
Metal Arts Studio
Equipment Includes:
- Jeweler’s Benches with 12 Workstations
- 5 Acetylene/Air Smith Variable Tip Torches
- Oxy-Acetylene Little Torch
- Oxy-Acetylene Melting Torch
- Centrifugal Caster
- Vacuum Table
- Vulcanizer
- Hydraulic Press
- Combination Rolling Mill
- 2-Dual-Speed Buffing Arbors w/ Dust Collectors
- Drill Press
- Flexible Shaft Machines
- 12″ Shear
- Jewelry/Metal Arts Library
- State-of-the-Art Ventilation System
- Comprehensive Collection of Assorted Hand Tools
- Assorted Hammers, Stakes, & Mandrels
- Burnout, Enameling, & Metal Clay Kilns