[TheForge] Metal / Jewellry curriculum

Mon Feb 4 14:45:00 2002

Don't forget the utility of blacksmithing for making TOOLS for the other =
metal arts.  Such toolmaking need not displace the use of iron and steel =
as an art medium, but rather provides more reason for the study of =
blacksmithing.

Bruce
NJ

>>> "Dan Armstrong" <[email protected]> 02/04/02 01:41PM >>>
    I don't know if this is entirely appropriate for the Forum, but I'm
constantly amazed at the range of knowledge and experience this group
represents, so here goes.
    I've been teaching blacksmithing for five years at an art school in
western Canada. Our metal studio, as it has existed, has combined forge
work with courses in aluminum and bronze casting and welded sculpture.
    Recently, due to funding cutbacks by gov't, an effort is being made
to combine the Metal and Jewellry studios and to devise a workable
curriculum. Jewellry has offered Casting and Construction, Surface
Treatments, Gemology, Small Object Design, etc. Both Studio curricula
were developed to provide students with a 3 year diploma and the
skills/knowledge to start their own studios or find related work.
    So the question is, given that we want students to have marketable
skills at graduation, how might Jewellry and Metal combine, overlap,
sequence learning, etc. and yet provide students with useful skills
sufficiently developed?
    Meaty question no doubt, but if anyone can provide me with or direct
me to information that may be useful in researching possibilities, I
would appreciate it --- existing programs, ideas, angles of approach,
whatever.
    Thanks.

    Dan A.            [email protected]=20

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