This delightful style, which dates back to 2nd century Egypt, opens perfectly flat. Creating your book involves sewing folded signatures with linking stitches to produce a braided looking exposed spine sewing structure. We will begin by getting acquainted with paper grain and its importance for the finished book. We will cover the boards of the book with decorative paper and once dry students will pierce the holes in the covers to prepare for sewing. Paper signatures will be folded and pierced and then we'll take a short break for lunch. After lunch we will learn to sew the coptic stitch to bind the book. By the end of the workshop, you will have completed your book, and have the skill to make more on your own. Class fee includes all materials we use to make a book: a sheet of decorative paper to cover boards, paper for your signatures, a pair of pre-cut cover boards, glue, and waxed-linen thread. Students can borrow tools from the BAL or you can bring your own bookbinder's toolkit. Students will need: bonefolder, medium-weight awl, Xacto knife, scissors, ruler, and a bookbinder's needle.

Note: We'll be taking a break for lunch, so please feel free to bring or pack your meal.

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

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

Hearts - like glass - are prone to both melting and breaking. That's why Groundworks Art Lab's Glass Studio is the best spot for a Date Night! Bring your sweetheart, your sibling, a pal, or just yourself for this beginner-friendly class and fall in love with a new hobby. The projects and tools will vary from week to week, so you may find yourself making a set of custom glass coasters, or a fused glass suncatcher; you may even find yourself melting and reforming glass by hand with a little flame-working! No matter what the project, this class will shatter your date's expectations and you'll come away with a hand-made art piece you can cherish.

Please come dressed in close-toe and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended.No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings or scarves.If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.We will provide safety goggles, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!

Ages: 18+PLEASE NOTE:

⁃ Date Night tickets are non-refundable. If you need to change or reschedule your reservation, please do so by 5:00pm on the Monday before your scheduled Date Night. No transfers are allowed after 5:00pm on the Monday prior to your Date Night.

⁃ Registrations are not transferable to another person. If you would like to purchase a class on someone’s behalf, the intended registratrant’s information must be provided at the time of registration.

⁃ Date Night tickets may only be rescheduled one time the Monday before. No exceptions! 

If you have wondered what the craft of blacksmithing is like to practice, this class is for you. Experience the joy of forging steel into objects of utility and beauty. This beginning level class will cover shop safety, fire management, tools and equipment, and appropriate use of the anvil, as well as an introduction to object-making using multiple methods of shaping hot metals

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.
• A bandana 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!

Please note that students only have open lab access corresponding to their specific class area (e.g., blacksmithing open lab is separate from welding open lab).

Ages: 16+

All supplies and materials will be provided during class.

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

Immerse yourself in the world of woodworking by joining our comprehensive sampler class! This workshop is perfect for beginners who are looking to familiarize themselves with a woodshop, and who aim to become comfortable with the basics of milling and hand tools. 

This sampler class is designed to build your confidence and comfort with woodworking, laying a solid foundation for any advanced classes you may choose to pursue in the future. You’ll also have the chance to connect with other passionate woodworking enthusiasts, sharing ideas and experiences in a supportive and welcoming environment. 

This Class Does NOT include Open Lab

What to wear to the wood studio?  

Safety First: Long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes with socks that protect up to the ankle.  Shirts and tops should be easy to tuck in, with sleeves that can be rolled up as needed.  Tie back long hair to ensure safety.  We offer safety goggles, dust masks and ear protection, and they must be worn in the wood studio.  Feel free to bring your own if you are more comfortable with them.  Jewelry, loose-fitting clothing, or any other items that could dangle will need to be secured while using machines.

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+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Sampler classes DO NOT include open studio time.

This is a Pay What You Can class with a suggested price of $280

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

Glass fusing, also known as kiln-formed glass, involves heating multiple pieces of glass in a kiln to create a single, fused piece. It's a versatile art form with many practical and decorative applications.

Come learn and explore the basics of using glass as an artmaking medium over the course of four weeks in this introductory-level class. We’ll provide all of the materials, all you need to bring is your creativity!

This class has no prerequisites and is specifically set up for absolute beginners to this art form. Our Glass Studio does have some safety basics that must be met 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 closed-toe and closed-heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen; long pants are recommended
• No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings, or scarves.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!

Ages: 16+

All supplies and materials will be provided during class.

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

Designed for advanced, self-motivated printmaking students looking for studio access and minimal guidance. This class is intended to provide our experienced print students open lab time without registering for a specific class, and will not have an active teaching component. Students should understand that their work will be largely, if not entirely, self-guided.

Independent study students will have a designated time slot on Friday afternoons that is not open to other students. Week 1 will serve as an orientation session, where students should be able to demonstrate readiness to use the studio independently. After the first week, all Open Lab slots are open to Independent Study students. Students do not have to use the dedicated Friday time slot to fulfill their 6 hours of studio time (for example, one can come to multiple regular open labs and not the Friday Independent Study “class”). However, students should keep in mind that regular open lab is available to all Level I and Level II students and is first-come, first-served while the Friday slot is designated for Independent Study students only.

Students in Level III: Independent Study should meet the following requirements:

• Demonstrate ability to appropriately retrieve, apply, and clean up ink
• Demonstrate ability to use screens or electrolytic etching baths if using
• Demonstrate ability to safely and appropriately operate the press and/or screen printing equipment
• Demonstrate ability to safely use carving tools and/or drypoint tools
• Demonstrate ability to clean up and discard of waste appropriately.

This class comes with 3 hours of "class time" every Friday, plus an additional 3 hours of open lab, for a total of 6 hours each week.

Ages: 16+

All supplies and materials will be provided.

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

Learn to turn! This class will be an introduction to using the lathe - a machine used for shaping all manner of cylindrical forms (think bowls, vases,  furniture legs, even pens!). 

Over the course of four weeks, you will learn about the tools directly associated with the lathe and their primary uses. From practicing spindle turning to learning how to make bowls, we will learn the two major turning techniques that can be explored to no end with further practice.  This class will be as hands on as any class can, wasting no time before getting students turning with tool in hand (don’t worry, we’ll go over safety basics too). Beyond the basics we will practice, practice, practice. You will not want to turn your machines off!

This class has no prerequisites and is open to beginners and seasoned woodworkers alike, but our Wood Studio has 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-toed shoes, a shirt that can be tucked in and either short sleeves, or sleeves that can be rolled up past your elbows. 
• No loose or dangling jewelry.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles and/or full face shields, ear protection, and face masks to cover nose and mouth, but if you have your own PPE you would prefer to use, please do!

Please note that students only have open lab access corresponding to their specific class area (e.g., milling open lab is separate from turning open lab).

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

These classes include open studio time.

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

No, this isn’t a spell that you can cast in Dungeons & Dragons - it’s so much cooler (well, hotter, actually). This introductory four-week class will teach you how to use a torch to sculpt and manipulate hot glass into beads, small figurines, and other exciting creations.

Come learn and explore the basics of using and caring for the equipment, glass color and all of the steps of prepping, shaping, and finishing heated glass with hand tools. If you’re looking for a fun, entry-level class to start your glassworking journey, look no further!

This class has no prerequisites and is specifically set up for absolute beginners to this art form. Our Glass Studio does have some safety basics that must be met 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 closed-toe and closed-heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen; long pants are recommended
• No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings, or scarves.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!

Ages: 16+

All supplies and materials will be provided.

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