Calendar

Karen Christians

Founder & Creative Director
Curriculum Vitae

Art Gallery

2012

Making a Steampunk Clock
Dates/Times:
April 13 – 15, 2012

Friday Evening, 13th: 6:30 – 8:30pm
Saturday, 14th: 11 – 4pm
Sunday, 15th: 10 – 5pm

April 21 – 22, Saturday and Sunday from 10 – 5pm

Description: Steampunk is all the rage!  Learn to build a fabulous clock of your own using recycled parts from a salvage yard. Steampunk fuses the past, present, and future by re-imagining if the Victorian or Industrial age coincided with the electronic age. In this course, you'll be introduced to Steampunk art and design stemming from Victorian, Edwardian, Industrial, and Art Deco periods. You'll plan, design, and build a Steampunk clock using actual Victorian equipment, machinery, and tools. Class includes an optional 'salvage' field trip to purchase Steampunk items for your project. You'll learn basic skills in woodworking, basic perspective drawing, metalworking, faux painting, and at the end of the course, you'll be able to take your Steampunk clock at home. A $40 materials fee is payable to the instructor at the first class. 

Ellen Hagney, Bruce Rosenbaum and Karen Christians, Instructors
With Brian Dow
Price: $250 course fee with $40 material fee
Location: Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation
Street: 154 Moody Street
City: Waltham
State: MA
Phone:  (781) 893-5410
www.crmi.org

Soldering 101
Date/Time: May 1 -3, 2012 10 am – 5pm
Description:   Learn to solder like a pro! Good soldering techniques are the foundation of jewelry and hollowware fabrication. Understanding how metals heat and how to make accurate, well-fitting joints are the real secrets of successful soldering. Information on different gasses, i.e. propane, acetylene, MAPP and natural gas, as well as studio setup concerns.

You will learn:

• “T” joints
• butt joints
• curved joints
• sweat soldering
• fussy fitting for the best connection
• soldering small jump rings to larger cast pieces
• setups for intricate soldering tasks
• multiple solderings on one piece

Students will learn several styles of soldering such as pick style for precision, stick soldering for larger pieces and chip soldering. Students are encouraged to bring any soldering failures or challenges to class.  Basic soldering skills are a prerequisite. Soldering supplies are included in the registration fee.

Recommend purchasing Cleverwerx ErgoLast™ Titanium Solder Pick, Curved Crosslock Tweezers and Straight Tweezers for use in class.
Price:  TBA, Supply kit is $95
Location: Metalwerx
Street: 50 Guinan Street
City: Waltham
State: MA
Phone: (781) 891-3854
www.metalwerx.com

Soldering Boot Camp
Date/Time: June 24 – 28, 2012 TBA
Description: Learning confidence in soldering is the secret to fabrication. This five day class is designed to help you learn all the basic solder techniques and some of the tricky ones as well!  The student will build proficiency in the soldering process through and understanding of soldering equipment, different gasses, studio set-up and torches. Instructor will explain the different solders, the variety in temperatures from various manufacturers and how to maximize the full range of solders beyond the basic hard, medium and easy.

Students will learn pick soldering, chip soldering, and stick soldering. Instructor will also cover how to solder tricky findings on pieces, how to solder on metal clay and how to fuse metal. There will be ample time for students to practice pieces for different styles and learn the proper layout for work with multiple soldering operations. Repetition will reinforce each student’s skill set and students will walk away with a greater understanding of how metal heats and why.

There will be a final project employing all of the soldering types. This INCLUDES A hollow form, textured brooch, pendant or earrings WHICH contain a stone and gold appliqué.

You should be able to walk away from this class not only with a piece of jewelry, but with the confidence to tackle any soldering problem you encounter.

Students of all levels are welcome.  Some Silver soldering experience and basic knowledge of sawing and filing would be helpful to accomplish more in this class.
Price: TBA
Location:  Idyllwild Arts Summer Program – Metals Week
Street: 52500 Temecula Road
City: Idyllwild
State: CA
Phone: (951) 659-4552
www.idyllwildarts.org/summer.aspx
For registration:summer@idyllwildarts.org