jewelry metalwork classes in Chicago?
Q.How would I find out about jewelry and metalworking classes, workshops, and seminars in the midwest? I'm looking for the above within about 300 miles of Detroit
A.On a really serious level, you've got both Wayne State University downtown, and Cranbrook Acadamy of Art in Bloomfield Hills. Wayne's metals program is taught by Phillip Fike, who's been there forever. Since the 40s. A number of very prominent metalsmiths in addition to Mr. Fike himself, have started out in Wayne's undergraduate program, and Phillip is a consummate teacher, even if the facilities themselves leave something to be desired (due to a shop location where any tools not locked up walk away...) Many of the students there are quite interesting, and welcome "outsiders". You'd don't actually have to be a degree student at Wayne to take the classes there. Cranbrook has history... from the 40 to the mid 80s, the program was tought by the late Richard Thomas. A rather surprising number of major names and teachers in metals in this country today got their MFA's and graduate training there under his gentle eye. It's probably fair to say the a majority of todays well known U.S. metalsmiths and teachers were either Richards Students, or students of his students, etc. Obviously, there are many exceptions, but nevertheless, one cannot downplay the importance of Cranbrook's role in american metalsmithing today. Now, the program is headed by Gary Griffin, a graduate of Tyler School of Art, under Stanley Lechtzin, who was himself a Cranbrook graduate as well as a Wayne state undergraduate... Cranbrook's programs are exclusively for graduate students. But all those grads each year have to go somewhere, and some teach in the local community colleges or art centers... Birmingham/bloomfield art centers used to have jewelry classes open to the public, and the folks over at Norman Thomas co in Birmingham also have classes. Most of the area high school systems, except perhaps Detroit itself (not surprisingly) have adult education programs which include jewelry classes. At one point, I helped teach the one at Dearborn high school on Outer drive, and for a while, I taught a gemology class there. Nancy MacDonald still teaches the jewelry one every semester. I believe Taylor, Redford, and a few other school systems also include jewelry classes in their adult ed programs. As well, don't forget the fine metals/jewelry program at the Center for Creative Studies, downtown near wayne. I don't know whether the classes are open to non students, but it cannot hurt to ask. You could always enroll as a non degree, part time student, taking only that class. You may want to also check, in addition to the folks at Norman A. Thomas co., the bulletin boards at C.R. Hill co, on 11 mile in Berkley. They're the largest jewelry tools supplier in the Detroit area, with good prices as well. Their bulletin board, just inside the door, often has fliers for places looking for jewelers, jewelers looking for places, or classes looking for students. A call to the Gemological Institute of America, in Carlsbad CA, will tell you whether they are running extension classes in Detroit this year. If not, they may be doing it in Chicago, Cleveland, or another midwest city. Their basic and advanced stone setting and repair classes are frequently taken on the road, and are as good as any you'll find anywhere. Within 300 miles of Detroit, my knowledge gets much skimpier. But in Toledo, at the art museum, they often run seminars and associated classes. Call em for a schedule or info. In Chicago, the art institute of Chicago may also offer classes of interest. In Cleveland, the Cleveland Institute of Art has a fine metals program, as well as fine classes in enamelling and several other speciaties. One of my co students from Grad School at Tyler, Matthew Hollern, teaches there.
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