Makers Symposium

You won’t want to miss Touchstone Center for Craft’s first Maker’s Symposium Weekend June 1–3, 2018, where makers gather together for a weekend of demonstrations, presentations, and networking. This year’s 5th annual Alchemist Picnic, a metalsmithing retreat, is merging with three other craft disciplines to bring a new and exciting dynamic to the event. A great opportunity for metal, ceramic, glass, and mosaic artists and makers from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond to come together to learn, be inspired and network. One of the most exciting outcomes of the immersive craft experience, like those offered at Touchstone, is the blending of craft disciplines. Exploration and collaboration culminates from the buzz of conversations in the classroom and around the bonfire. Collaborations and life-long creative relationships often emerge. Think of the possibilities! 

Alchemist Picnic at Touchstone Center for Crafts will once again be hosted by noted metalsmiths Wayne Werner and Jim Bové. This year’s Maker’s Symposium Weekend itinerary includes a keynote presentation by artist Rachel Rearick. Rachel will be speaking on the topic of ‘Versatility of Craft: Opportunities and Materials,’ encouraging artists to think outside of functionality and form to consider how materials may apply outside of the craft field – opening up a world of opportunity. Beyond her career as a maker, Rachel currently serves as the Arts and Cultural Manager for Allegheny County Airport where she manages the ‘Art in the Airport’ and the ‘Creating a Sense of Place’ programs. 

Other artists offering presentations and demonstrations throughout the weekend include metalsmiths, Jim Bové, Cyd Rowley, and Michael Brehl. Kevin Rohde, Yoko Sekino Bové, and Julia Weber will be offering demonstrations in ceramics. Mosaic artists performing demonstrations are Laura Lyn Stern and Jessica Liddell. Glass presenters will be announced at a later date. Admission includes great food, evening bonfires (weather permitting) & the return of midnight fireside casting with Richard Hoff. All makers, artists, craftspeople, arts organizations, guilds, schools and universities are invited to this one-of-a-kind event! A special discount is being offered to students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. 

Registration includes meals and access to any demonstration or event taking place on campus. Lodging may be purchased separately.

See below for event pricing. Click the register now button to register online or call the office at 724-329-1370 to register today!

 

Register Now!

Event Schedule

Note: Demonstrations will be held in the studios and in the great room of Blaney Lodge. All meals will be served at Touchstone’s Dining Hall.

Friday, June 1, 2018

• 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Check-In at Blaney Lodge
• 5:30 p.m.: Dinner
• 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 pm: Keynote – Rachel Rearick

Saturday, June 2, 2018

• 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Breakfast
• 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.:
  • Metals/Jewelry – TBA
  • Ceramics – Kevin Rohde (Figurative Sculpture)
  • Glass – TBA
  • Mosaics – TBA
• 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch
• 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.:
  • Metals/Jewelry – TBA
  • Ceramics – Julia Weber (Decals)
  • Glass – TBA
  • Mosaics – TBA
• 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.:
  • Metals/Jewelry – TBA
  • Ceramics – TBA
  • Glass – TBA
  • Mosaics – TBA
• 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Dinner
• 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.:
  • Metals/Jewelry – TBA
  • Ceramics – TBA
  • Glass – TBA
  • Mosaics – TBA
• 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.: Bonfire at Fire Circle or Lodge Hearth (weather dependent)

Sunday, June 3, 2018

• 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Continental Breakfast & Checkout

Weekend Session Pricing

Admission Fees (includes meals) per person:

• $130 Weekend Member
• $140 Weekend Non-Member
• $70 Special Student Rate
• $90 Saturday Only Fee (includes lunch and dinner)

Lodging Options**:

• $80 Shared Dorm
• $40 Shared Cabin
• $10 Camping

Register Now!

* Meals include the following: Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Sunday continental breakfast. Special dietary needs must be given at the time of registration. Individual meals are not available for purchase.

** All inclusive lodging includes Friday and Saturday evening accommodations. Campers must bring own tent, bedding, towels, toiletries, etc. and will have access to the bathhouse. All cabin/dorm lodging is based on a shared option and does not include bedding, towels, toiletries, etc. Attendees may request to share a room/cabin with a specified attendee. Requests should be given in advance with the understanding that not all requests are guaranteed to be fulfilled.

Meet the Presenters:

We have a terrific lineup of presentations and demonstrations in store!

Makers Symposium Weekend

June 1–3, 2018

Keynote Speaker:

Rachel Rearick

The Versatility of Craft: Opportunities and Materials

A familiarity and finesse with craft materials opens up a world of opportunity.  Rachel will encourage artists to think outside of functionality and form to consider how materials may apply outside of the craft field.  As Pittsburgh is experiencing a resurgence of growth and redevelopment, there are more and more ways for artists to be involved.  From civic design projects that include handmade benches or parks with artist-designed enhancements, opportunity abounds for those familiar with materials such as metal, wood, glass, and ceramics.  In the world of public art, an increasing number of calls are open to the exploration of traditional craft materials being utilized through contemporary approaches.  Rachel will also touch upon the opportunities that are open to local and regional artists at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Bio: Rachel currently serves as the Arts and Cultural Manager for Allegheny County Airport.  In that position, she manages the Art in the Airport program as well as the Creating a Sense of Place program.  Additionally, she writes reviews about local women artists and entrepreneurs for LOCAL Pittsburgh Magazine.  Previous roles include that of Arts, Culture, and History Specialist for the City of Pittsburgh, and the Assistant Director of Education at Contemporary Craft.

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Alchemist Picnic

2018 will mark the 5th Annual Alchemist Picnic at Touchstone Center for Crafts, combined with our 1st Annual Makers Symposium Weekend. Join us for a weekend celebrating all things metalsmithing complete with lectures, presentations, and demonstrations. Feel free to check out the other demonstrations in ceramics, glass, and mosaic arts.

Demonstrations:

Jim Bové – Tool Making for Jewelers

This demonstration will introduce various techniques for making your own tools using worn-out files, drill bits and burrs to create scrapers, burnishers, stamping, texturing and stone setting tools.

Bio: Jim Bové is a practicing artist, educator and former board member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG). He has organized and curated several international exhibitions and lectures between the United States and Japan, including the cross-cultural exchange, Metalsmiths Linking. Jim’s artwork has been featured in Metalsmith magazine’s Exhibition in Print, several books, Humor in Craft, 500 Art Necklaces, On Body and Soul: Contemporary Armor to Amulets and most recently in Cast. His artwork resides in collections in the United States and abroad. Jim currently teaches jewelry and metals at California University of Pennsylvania.

Cyd Rowley – Hollow Form Vessels with The Hydraulic Press

This demo will cover all the steps involved in taking flat sheet and creating a three-dimensional vessel pendant.  I define “vessel pendant” as any container, worn on the body, usually hanging from a chain around the neck, but not always.  Historical examples include needle cases, pomanders, lockets, perfume vials, snuff containers, and vinaigrettes.  The demo will cover design considerations and fabrication stages including cutting metal blanks, surface treatments of blanks, creating a silhouette die, pressing silhouette forms, cutting, refining and fitting pressed forms, soldering, finishing, and bail styles.

Bio: Cyd works from her Kensington Maryland studio where she creates sculptural “vessel” pendants that are inspired by her fascination with containers worn on the body, and with creating pieces that can be personalized, that tell a story, and that provoke conversation and connection with others.  She studied design and jewelry fabrication at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore.  

Michael Brehl – Highlights of Box Making

Michael has been working and teaching as a metalsmith for over thirty years. In this demo, he will present his method for making small to medium size boxes, including a unique method for scoring and folding and bench tricks for fitting and soldering hinges. 

Bio: Michael Brehl is a teaching artist/metalsmith who lives and works in Mount Rainier, Maryland. He has been a practicing silversmith for 30 years. Metalsmithing has been a part of the human experience for ten thousand years, and
has applications in the art world, industry, and everyday life. Michael’s career reflects this and has included gallery exhibits, extensive prototyping and production, consultations with museum professionals, and numerous commissions. Several years ago Michael realized that what he loves most is teaching and demonstrating metalsmithing—to adults and children of all ages. He has created a portable teaching studio that he brings to many venues, including community
centers, the Smithsonian, farmer’s markets, the Washington Goldsmith’s Guild, schools, and maker fairs.

Fireside Casting with Richard Hoff

Primitive casting into stone molds is one of the oldest techniques in metalsmithing. In this demonstration, pewter is heated in iron ladles in the hot coals of the Touchstone bonfire. The molten metal is then poured into stone molds to crystallize before your eyes! Everyone will get the chance to participate and take home what they make.

Host for the Alchemist Picnic – Wayne Werner

Wayne Werner is a third generation metalsmith from Baltimore, MD. He has traveled around the world to learn with metal workers from Italy and Egypt to Java and Bali. Specializing in cold-forging precious metals, Werner has incorporated the traditional techniques of gold and platinum smithing with his artistic vision of paying homage to the fertility cults of the ancient world. Primarily making a living retailing his work, Werner has participated in more than 200 high-end craft shows nationally. He has received many awards for his work, including the World Gold Council’s Gold Distinction award and the MJSA Vision award for Mokume Gane. Werner is a former instructor at the Fuji Studio in Florence, Italy, and is an adjunct faculty member at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD. In 2006, he was asked to demonstrate his craft at The Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte, NC.

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Ceramics

An exciting weekend filled with ceramics lectures, presentations, and demonstrations during Touchstone Center for Crafts First Annual Makers Symposium Weekend. This is a great opportunity to learn new techniques and processes from our talented presenting artists. Feel free to check out the other demonstrations in metals/jewelry, glass, and mosaic arts.

Presenters:

Yoko Sekino-Bové

Yoko Sekino-Bové will demonstrate throwing techniques on the pottery wheel, and decoration techniques on a greenware surface. Yoko will also discuss how to maintain a small-scale ceramic studio for people who are interested in setting up and maintaining a studio in their own home.

Bio: Yoko Sekino-Bové was born in Osaka, Japan. She worked as a graphic designer before her passion for ceramic art took her on a new path. After receiving an MFA in ceramics from the University of Oklahoma, Yoko moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, and started working from her home studio. Her porcelain work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and most importantly, many private homes (mainly kitchens). Yoko also teaches ceramics at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania. To see some of Yoko’s work visit yokosekinobove.com

Kevin Rohde – ‘Figurative Ceramics’

Hands are one of the most intricate components of the human figure and possess incredible communicative potential in the sculptural form. Kevin Rohde will be demonstrating the construction of the human hand in clay using the solid building method. This demonstration will cover the basic construction, general skeletal anatomy, measuring techniques, and surface details i.e. fingernails, folds etc. An overview of the necessary sculpting tools and hollowing techniques will also be covered in this in-depth look at one of the arts most iconic features.

Julie Claire Weber – ‘The Decal Process’

Julia will demonstrate the ins and outs of her decal process. From designing to applying! Learn from this thoughtful approach to decorating your surface. Julia will cover how she draws and designs a decal from scratch based on form and composition. Then will move on to the application process and troubleshooting errors after firing. The demonstration will include hands-on moments and plenty of discussions to aid in the excitement and advancement of new ideas!

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Mosaics

This weekend gathering will celebrate the process of thought and action in the ancient medium of mosaics. Use this opportunity to learn the processes and techniques of our renowned presenters, and be sure to check out the other demonstrations in metals/jewelry, ceramics, and glass.

Presenters:

Laura Lyn Stern – ‘3D Substrates for Mosaics’

Laura Lyn Stern is a Philadelphia based artist who creates multimedia mosaic work that is both sculptural and functional. Her demonstration during the Makers Weekend will focus on sculptural processes. She will present an overview of how to create 3D substrates using easily obtained materials and will demonstrate how to design and produce dimensional mosaic elements using simple one-piece molds. Examples will include mosaic bits and pieces made using glass, ceramic, resin and bronze as well as finished panels which use these mosaic pieces.

Bio: Laura Lyn Stern is a Philadelphia-based educator and mosaic artist. Her artwork utilizes high bas-relief, unconventional materials, and skillful design approaches. Laura Lyn works with both project installation and object-oriented pieces. She has designed collections for Metaphor Bronze Tile and Wilton Armetale in addition to showing her work in numerous exhibitions and galleries. To see some of Laura’s work Click here. 

Jessica Liddell – ‘Architectural Ceramics’

Architectural ceramics are an important aspect of the Ceramic tradition. Ceramic artists looking to expand their studio practice are often excited to discover the many options available to them within the world of tiles and mosaics. This demonstration will cover the basic tile making processes and surface design techniques that Jessica uses in her work. She will also demonstrate how to assemble and grout a mosaic panel. The discussion will also cover substrates, surface preparation, and adhesives.  

Bio: Jessica Gorlin Liddell has been making mosaics professionally since 1997. Her work can be found in private collections and public spaces throughout the country. She has extensive experience with large-scale ceramic installations.  She also fabricates her own clay and glass tiles. Based in Philadelphia, Jessica teaches adults and children and has conducted artist residencies in schools, hospitals and community centers throughout the region. Jessica’s business, Bella Mosaic Art, has been featured in numerous books and magazines. She and her work has appeared on HGTV, The Travel Channel, The NBC 10 Show, and Good Day Philadelphia. To see some of Jessica’s work, visit, bellamosaic.com.

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Glass

The weekend will also include an exciting celebration of glass arts, with presentations, lectures, and demonstrations. While you are here, be sure to check out some of the other great things happening in our metals/jewelry, ceramics, and mosaic studios for the Makers Symposium Weekend.

Presenters:

Glass demonstrations to be announced.