Kick-Off Weekend: June 8-9
Our First Weekend of 2019 Workshops will be Jun 8-9 and includes:
Level: Beginner
$295 Member | $325 Non-Member Plus Materials and Studio Fees
Blacksmithing
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Beginning Blacksmithing with Andy Upright
The perfect opportunity to try your hand at forging in a fun and inclusive environment… walk away with finished pieces showcasing your new skills!
Ceramics
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Studio Tricks of the Trade with Dan Kuhn
Create a variety of functional and decorative objects using coiling, pinching, slab work, and wheel-throwing techniques.
Metals & Jewelry
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Form, Fire, Color with Felicia Szorad
Design a variety of textured shapes and experiment with torch firing enamel onto your creations to enhance the forms with vibrant color.
Drawing & Painting
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Plein Air Painting with William Pfahl
Find your vision and experience the enjoyment of painting our amazing world from life!
This workshop is already filling up so…
Special Topics
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Fundamentals of Digital Photography with Rick Szymanski
Get your camera off AUTO mode and take manual control of your digital photos!
Fred Herbst and Doug Jeppesen are two more of our ‘Taste of Touchstone’ Artists who will also be teaching at Touchstone in 2018!
Visit The Allegany Arts Council’s Saville Gallery in Cumberland, MD from February 3-17, 2018 for ‘A Taste of Touchstone’ Gallery Exhibit. More information: Taste of Touchstone
Fred Herbst received a MFA in ceramics from the University of North Texas in 1998. He is a professor of art and chair of the Humanities Department at Corning Community College in Corning, New York. His wood-fired work has been shown in exhibitions across the United States and internationally. Fred has presented for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, the Glass Art Society, and the First European Wood-fired Ceramics Conference in Germany. He has been published in Ceramics Monthly, Studio Potter, and The Log Book. His work has also appeared in 500 Teapots, Volume 2 and Wood-fired Ceramics: 100 Contemporary Artists. In collaboration with the Corning Museum of Glass, Fred developed a hybrid wood-fired kiln that can be used to fire ceramics and blow glass simultaneously.
To see more of Fred’s work visit fredherbst.com
Doug Jeppesen is an associate professor of art/ceramics at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Doug earned a BFA in art and a BA in art history from the University of Tulsa and his MFA from Northern Illinois University. His work has appeared in numerous national exhibitions including Feats of Clay, Strictly Functional, and the Wichita National. He presented at the International Wood Fire Conference hosted by Northern Arizona University and the Second European Wood Fire Conference held at Guldagergaard International Research Center in Skaelskor, Denmark. Most recently, he was the host of the 2016 International Wood Fire Conference held at Waubonsee Community College. Doug also worked extensively with Laguna Clay Company to develop Wood Fired B-Mix WC-899.
To see more of Doug’s work visit dougjeppesen.com and follow him on Instagram @dougjeppesen
Fred Herbst and Doug Jeppesen will be teaching ‘Domesticating Fire’ at Touchstone from September 14–16, 2018. All are welcome as we utilize the Touchstone Center for Crafts’ Noborigama wood-fired kiln to explore possibilities with wood-fired ceramics. We will discuss wood-fired ceramics concepts like kiln design, loading and firing strategies, materials (e.g., clay, slip, and glaze) appropriate for woodfiring, kiln cooling, and other issues. During the firing, the instructors will demonstrate their wheel and handbuilding methods including the use of molds. Students should bring cone 10 bisque ware made from a variety of clay bodies if possible.
Allegany Arts Council in Cumberland, Maryland Partners with Touchstone Center for Crafts for a Unique Exhibition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: January 25, 2018
Allegany Arts Council in Cumberland, Maryland Partners with Touchstone Center for Crafts for a Unique Exhibition
Cumberland, MD — Get a Taste of what Touchstone has to offer in 2018! Visit The Allegany Arts Council’s Saville Gallery in Cumberland, MD for an exhibition showcasing the wide range of diversity and talent that Touchstone brings to campus each year! The Allegany Arts Council has teamed up with Pennsylvania’s Touchstone Center for Crafts for an eclectic exhibition of artwork from artists who are teaching or have studied at the residential craft school. The show begins Feb. 3 and concludes Feb. 17 at the Allegany Arts Council’s Saville Gallery in Cumberland, Maryland. Displayed artwork includes Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Glass, Metals & Jewelry, and other mediums. Items will be available for sale.
A public reception is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 10 from 6-8pm. This event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Please call 301-777-2787 or email art@alleganyarts.org for more information about the event. For more information about Touchstone Center for Crafts, email info@touchstonecrafts.org or call 724.329.1370.
Touchstone Center for Crafts is a residential crafts school located in Farmington, Pa. Now enjoying its 46th year, Touchstone’s workshops include a broad cross-section of traditional and contemporary interpretations of blacksmithing, ceramics, fiber & paper arts, glass, metals and jewelry, mosaics, painting, drawing, printmaking, woodworking, and more for beginners and experienced artists. Touchstone’s 150-acre wooded campus is situated in the popular Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania, just east of Uniontown and about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The campus features art studios; the Blaney Lodge housing the Kinard library and galleries; and a variety of overnight accommodations, including cabins and dormitories. Learn more about Touchstone Center for Crafts and view the 2018 Workshop Schedule at www.touchstonecrafts.org.
Since 1975, the Allegany Arts Council has been the official “umbrella” organization for the arts in Allegany County, Maryland. The Arts Council is headquartered in the heart of Downtown Cumberland at 9 N. Centre Street, and is one of several anchors in the City’s vibrant Arts & Entertainment District. At this same location, the Allegany Arts Council also maintains professional exhibition spaces, the Saville Gallery and the Schwab Mountain Maryland Gallery, that feature the artwork of local, regional and national artists. Visitors are always welcome! For more information, visit www.alleganyartscouncil.org.
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Drew Lavercombe returns to Touchstone in 2018 to teach a workshop!
Since childhood, Drew Lavercombe has been compelled to create. After experimenting with many mediums, it was not until he attended school for aviation maintenance technology in 2013, that he discovered his love for metalsmithing. Since this discovery Drew has devoted his time and energy to honing his skills as a metalsmith. In the summer of 2017 he served as the metals studio technician at Touchstone Center for Crafts and then as the Center’s resident artist in the Fall of 2017. His body of work is eclectic in nature; and many of his pieces center thematically around time and our relationship to it. In addition to his love for creating, Drew deeply enjoys teaching and sharing his knowledge of the craft with anyone who has a desire to learn.
To see more of Drew’s work view his Maker Profile at and follow him on Instagram @drlavercombe
Drew will be teaching From Ephemeral to Eternal: An Introduction to Organic Casting at Touchstone from August 31–September 3, 2018. In this workshop, students will learn the basics of spruing, investing, burnouts, and casting using organic objects from Touchstone’s beautiful campus. Utilizing the vacuum casting machine, we will be able to capture incredible detail while learning this versatile and exciting technique. We will discuss the trials and tribulations of casting as well as the tricks to make your casting experience flow smoothly. This workshop is suitable for All Levels.
Stacy Larson returns to Touchstone in 2018 to teach a workshop!
Originally from rural Minnesota, Stacy Larson ventured to the east coast where she attended Syracuse University. She received her BFA, double majoring in ceramics and jewelry/metalsmithing, with a minor in retail management. Stacy has received several awards and scholarships for furthering her ceramic studies, including residencies at the Chautauqua School of Art in New York, as well as the Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China. Last summer, she worked as the studio fellow at Touchstone Center for Crafts. Her work has been shown in galleries in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Stacy has also been featured on a local WEDU PBS Arts Plus episode during her artist residency in St. Petersburg, Florida.
To see more of Stacy’s work visit her website and follow her on Instagram @stacysceramics
Stacy will be teaching Introductory Wheel Throwing at Touchstone from July 30-August 3, 2018. In this workshop, students will learn the basic process of throwing, shaping, and trimming pottery on the wheel. Explore clay as a medium through creating a variety of forms, including bowls, cups, mugs, and more. You may also learn some decorating and altering techniques. This class is perfect for beginners with little or no experience and also for students wanting to further develop their throwing skills.
