Jewelry & Metals
Shine Bright
In our jewelry and metals courses, you’ll learn to shape, join and add color to non-ferrous metals while creating works in copper, brass, silver, stones and alternative materials. Our program emphasizes both technical skill and creative expression, drawing inspiration from historical and contemporary practices to help you develop your own artistic voice. You’ll gain hands-on experience that can lead to careers in jewelry design, metalsmithing or even entrepreneurial ventures.
Gaining Experience & Skills
If you are taking a class as a non-art major, the planning and problem solving involved gives you project management experience. Hand skills learned here may give you an edge in a variety of mechanical, engineering or industrial fields. As an art student, cross-disciplinary work will strengthen and diversify your portfolio for continuing education. If you choose to focus on jewelry & metalsmithing, you will learn skills that can prepare you to be an entrepreneur, apprentice commercial bench jeweler, jewelry designer or goldsmith.
Make Your Visions A Reality
Create wearable, functional and small-scale sculptural objects.
Our professional-grade studio is equipped for techniques, including basic fabrication, casting, raising, die-forming, electroforming, aluminum anodizing and enameling, as well as a localized exhaust. While enrolled, you can check out a locking bench space to store tools, projects and materials. Equipment includes:
- 4 acetylene & atmospheric air Smith torch setups
- Oxy-acetylene Smith micro-torch
- 2 flexible shafts
- Enameling kiln
- PMC kiln
- Burnout kiln & centrifugal casting setup
- Sandblaster
- 2 powder coating setups
- Industrial drill press
- Belt sander
- 2 rolling mills
- Drew bench
- Forming room with hammers, anvils, mallets & stakes
- Hydraulic press
- And more...
More to Explore
Engage with art in other ways or check out other art studio areas.
Space to Ponder Art
Expand your understanding of art through our art exhibits—including student artwork—glean insight about the human experience and get inspired to create!
In Their Studio
Dive into the minds of artists and get inspired from their grappling with creativity. Our "In Their Studio" podcast features interviews with faculty, students and featured artists.
Other Studio Areas
Sculpture and metals and painting, oh my! No matter your interest, we have the tools and studio space to create your best work in a wide range of media.
Ask Away!
You might be familiar with studio areas like photography and drawing, but working with jewelry and metals is often overlooked. If you have any questions, please contact Professor Alison Gates.