In this course, students will learn to bend and shape steel. Students will practice traditional blacksmithing techniques, such as tapering, bending, twisting, and punching; using the forge and anvil. This class will cover shop safety, fire management, tools and equipment, and the appropriate use of the various parts of the anvil. Students will leave with valuable skills in blacksmithing while gaining self-confidence with completed projects such as a bracelet, hook, fork, or spoon.

This class has no prerequisites and is specifically set up for absolute beginners to this art form. Our Metal Studio does have some safety basics before anyone is allowed to join in the fun (failure to meet these requirements will result in not being granted access to the equipment):

• Please come dressed in close-toe shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are required.
• For welding, a long sleeved cotton shirt is recommended that fully covers your chest. We have long sleeve over-shirts in the studio. Please be aware that sparks can damage clothing.
• Abandana or tight cap is advised. If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings or scarves.
• We will provide safety goggles and other PPE, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!
• Please bring a water bottle!

Ages: 9 - 12

All supplies and materials will be provided during class.

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $290.

Will be available to register on Monday, September 21 at 8:00am.

This class is great for students who already have some experience with clay and are looking to take the next step.

The demonstrations for this class go beyond the basics. Students will learn how to make more complex forms and techniques including: altered forms, lidded jars, throwing off-the-hump, sgraffito, and more.

(Please check the class prerequisites before enrolling)

PLEASE NOTE: This class runs for 3.5 hours, which includes 1 hour of work time at the end of each class period. You will not have access to the studio outside of the scheduled class time. You will also not have access to the other Groundworks locations.

Ages: 16+

Class meets weekly on THURSDAYS

For details on our Firing Fees, please click here: https://www.groundworksartlab.org/firing-fees

All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in an oxydation kiln.

No class Nov. 23 - Nov. 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving.

Will be available to register on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

Ready to deck your halls? Groundworks has you covered! We're offering a brand new multi-studio crossover class that will help you get your holiday cheer on by hand-crafting some holiday objects to bring the joy of the season to your home.

Over the course of eight weeks, you will spend time in four of our studios: Clay, Wood, Glass, and Metal making a series of seasonal objects and learning a whole bunch of fun and approachable techniques in each of those art forms. In Clay, you'll spend two days learning hand-building and glazing; in Wood, you'll learn to make things on the bandsaw and lathe; followed by two days in Glass learning about fusing and flamework. We will finish up with two days in the Metal Studio where we will do some welding and a little bit of blacksmithing. Ho ho holy cow that's a lot of fun!

This class does NOT come with open lab time. All work must be completed during class. 

Safety Information:

• Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes
• Long pants
• Shirts should be easily tucked and sleeves pulled up
• Hair tied back
• Eye and lung protection are provided and must be worn in the studio

Ages: 16+

No class the week of November 23rd. Studio closed for Thanksgiving. 

Available for registration Sept. 21st at 8am. 

This class is great for teenagers that are new to the wheel as well as those that are further developing their throwing skills.

Classes will include both hand-building and wheel-throwing, trimming of thrown pots, slip decorating, and glazing of bisqued pieces. These classes are a great chance for students to learn a variety of techniques, ask questions, and play with clay!

Ages: 16-19

Class meets weekly on THURSDAYS

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $275.

Will be available to register on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

In this Level II class students will learn about the magic of soda firing. This is the process of creating a special kiln environment which involves introducing soda ash into the kiln to make an atmosphere that will add glaze to the pieces. Since larger forms tend to warp in the soda kiln, this class will focus on creating smaller to medium sized pieces that have a better chance for survival. No large plates or bowls will be allowed in the firing due to their higher fail rate and the need to prioritize kiln space for smaller pieces. Larger pieces can still be fired in the normal cone 6 reduction kilns. Special attention will be paid to the process of atmospheric firing and how to plan accordingly throughout the class.

The firings throughout this class will be ^10 soda firings.

Ages: 16+

Class meets weekly on THURSDAYS

Note: This class will meet at the MAIN location at 3750 Canfield St. You will only have open lab aaccess at the same studio as your class.

No class Nov. 23 - Nov. 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving.

Will be available to register Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

Level I Hand-building for students wanting to explore the basic techniques for hand-building functional, sculptural, or decorative pieces.

Learn about the various hand-building tools, and the three basic hand-building techniques: pinching, coiling, and slab rolling through a series of self-guided projects.

Ages: 16+

Class meets weekly on FRIDAYS for 8 weeks

Note: This class will meet at the new Main location at 3750 Canfield Street in NE Boulder. You will only have open lab access at the same studio as your class. 

Does NOT include Firing Fees. For details on our Firing Fees, please click here: https://www.groundworksartlab.org/firing-fees

All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in a reduction kiln.

No classes Nov. 23 - Nov. 29. Studio closed for Thanksgiving. 

Will be available to register on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

Explore pattern and color! Use stencils to enliven your slab-built creations. In this class we'll start by having students make their own stencils, and then learn how to use these stencils with slabs for functional or decorative pieces like vases or serving dishes. All levels welcome!

This class takes place at Groundworks HILL at 1010 Aurora Ave, Boulder, CO

This class meets weekly for 4 weeks on FRIDAYS.

Class does NOT include additional open lab time or clay. All work must be completed during class time. 

Ages: 16+

Will be available to register on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:00am.

Susan Taylor Glasgow will share her unique style of sewing glass components together to make complex and exciting objects.  In this multi-day workshop,  students will learn pattern making, and advanced cutting skills*. We'll work with traditional hand glass cutting tools and also glass saws and Dremels, all while building a 3-dimensional house!

*Students need experience with cutting sheet glass.

Friday, October 23 (4-7pm), Saturday, October 24 (9am-5pm), Sunday, October 25 (9am-5pm)

Note: We will have a lunch break on Saturday and Sunday; please bring your own brown bag lunch for those days.

Ages: 16+

ARTIST BIO: Glasgow grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a BFA in Design. Her sculptures are included in the collections of the Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR, the Alexander Tutsek Foundation, Münich, Germany, the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburg, PA, the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA and the Museum of American Glass, Millville, NJ.  Susan Taylor-Glasgow lives and works in Columbia, Missouri.

Each sewn glass sculpture starts out as a flat sheet of glass. In her previous life, Glasgow was a professional dressmaker and seamstress, so had created a comfortable understanding about how to take a flat sheet of material and give it form. In her sculptures, each glass panel is cut from a pattern designed to match the form for which it was made. To establish the three-dimensional shape and holes, each section of the glass is kiln-fired several times. The imagery is embedded into the glass by sandblasting, and then by rubbing glass enamels into the blasted area to create the black and gray photo-like quality. The components are then re-fired to 1250 degrees to melt the enamel into the glass. Once cooled, the sections are finally sewn together. Depending on the complexity of the vessel or sculpture, the entire creative process may take two to four weeks to complete.

Artist website: http://www.taylorglasgow.com/category/available-work/