Come spark your creativity in our Teen Welding class! Join other teens for four weeks to learn the basics of shop safety and terminology, and an introduction to MIG welding equipment and how to properly and safely use it. Through hands-on demonstration, you'll gain confidence in this expansive practice - either to use it in artmaking, or possibly even as a future career track!

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 and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 

For welding, you must wear a shirt with long sleeves that fully covers your chest. We recommend a long sleeved button down.

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 PPE including face shields

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

Big spoon or little spoon? You don't have to pick in our very first 4-studio crossover class: Exploring Through Spoons!

In this 4-week class, you'll get a lightning fast introduction to our Clay, Wood, Metal, and Print studios. Each week, the students will be in a different studio learning the material through the ancient practice of spoon making (seriously, spoons are, like, 3,000 years old)! Weeks 1-3 will be spent making physical spoons through hand-building in clay, carving out of wood, and forging in metal. The last week will be spent learning linocut to make a one-of-kind print of their spoons, culminating in a display of craftsmanship for the ages.

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks Main at 3750 Canfield St.

This class does NOT include extra open lab time. All work must be completed during class time. 

 Will be available for registration Monday, December 8th at 8:00am.

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.

What to Wear in the Metals Studio?  

Please dress safely and appropriately. Arrive for class in all-natural fiber clothing, long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes with socks that protect up to the ankle. Long hair should be tied back and synthetic hair should be covered with all-natural fiber fabric.  Nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetics are not recommended around machines, equipment, or processes that can produce hot fragments, sparks, or flames. Please avoid synthetic blends, as 100% cotton is recommended. Layers are encouraged, as the studio can begin cool then become very hot.

Welding students are recommended to wear long sleeve shirts to prevent arc-flash burns. Additional protective gear shall be provided as needed. 

Personal Property: 

Personal materials will need to go home with you at the end of each class. We do not provide storage. 

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

This introductory welding course is designed for individuals with little to no experience in welding, providing the essential skills and knowledge to safely and effectively work with a wire-feed welder to join steel. Through hands-on practice and expert guidance, students will learn the fundamentals of welding with a MIG welder, including proper equipment use, safety procedures, and key welding techniques. By the end of the course, participants will have the confidence to perform basic welding tasks and create simple metal projects.

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 and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 
• For welding, you must wear a shirt with long sleeves that fully covers your chest. We recommend a long sleeved button down.
• 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 and other PPE, 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, December 8 at 8:00am.

Here at Groundworks, we’re all about making our art forms accessible to everyone. We know metal studios can often be male dominated spaces, but we really want to change that. That’s why we’re so excited to offer Women’s Welding Night! 

Join other like minded women and femmes for four weeks to learn the basics of shop safety and terminology, and an introduction to welding equipment and how to properly and safely use it. Our hope is that by the end of this class, you’ll feel comfortable and confident in not just our metal studio, but any other you find yourself walking into.

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 and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 

• For welding, you must wear a shirt with long sleeves that fully covers your chest. We recommend a long sleeved button down.

• 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 and other PPE, 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, December 8 at 8:00am.

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. Students will develop crucial skills for more advanced blacksmithing projects.

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 and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 

• For welding, you must wear a shirt with long sleeves that fully covers your chest. We recommend a long sleeved button down.

• 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 and other PPE, 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, December 8 at 8:00am.

Are you fired up to learn about metalworking? You're in the right place! This all-levels 8-week class teaches and expands on the basic techniques of a variety of metalworking practices such as forging and blacksmithing, MIG welding, fabrication, and sheet-metal. Explore this art form by doing through a series of demonstrations and projects.

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 and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 

• For welding, you must wear a shirt with long sleeves that fully covers your chest. We recommend a long sleeved button down.

• 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 and other PPE, 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, December 8 at 8:00am.

This class introduces students to the fundamentals of metal fabricating processes. Techniques explored will include welding, sheet metal work, use of an oxy-fuel torch, and blacksmithing. Day one will cover the basics of sheet metal work, including: layout, punching holes, shearing, and folding to create a basic sheet metal pan. Day two; students will learn the purposes of the oxy-fuel torch with emphasis on heating metal for bending and using the cutting torch to cut out patterns in steel. On day three students will have an introduction to basic blacksmithing using the hammer and anvil to shape hot metal. The last day students will practice welding with a wire-feed welder, and have an opportunity to assemble parts. We will cover safety and essential techniques in each method. Students will gain a better understanding of basic practices in the metal studio.

What to Wear in the Metals Studio?

We wish for all students to have a safe and enjoyable learning experience. Proper safety equipment and PPE will be provided for use within the studio.

Please dress safely and appropriately. Arrive for class in all-natural fiber clothing, long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes with socks that protect up to the ankle. Long hair should be tied back and synthetic hair should be covered with all-natural fiber fabric.  Nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetics are not recommended around machines, equipment, or processes that can produce hot fragments, sparks, or flames. Please avoid synthetic blends, as 100% cotton is recommended. Layers are encouraged, as the studio can begin cool then become very hot. 

Welding students are recommended to wear long sleeve shirts to preventarc-flash burns (much like a sunburn). 

All students participating in activities involving sparks or hot metal are encouraged to wear leather boots or older shoes.Please bring a re-fillable water bottle!

Class Policies & Information:

Open Lab: This class includes access to the studio during Open Lab hours. Open Lab is exclusively for students who are currently enrolled in the program. You are allowed to attend one Open Lab session per week, totaling 3 hours during the duration of your class. You may only attend the Open Lab session for the class in which you are registered. This time is intended for independent work on your class project. While studio staff will be present, they are there to ensure you are using the tools safely, not to provide instruction.

Class Make-Up: Our studios are full with adult and youth classes 7 days a week, 48 weeks a year. Typically, every class is full, which means there is simply no space for students to make up classes. If we cancel an entire class due to weather or other emergencies, we can not guarantee we will be able to schedule a make-up class. Individuals who miss a class will not be able to make it up. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about missed classes.

Studio Clean Up: Clean-up is critical! Please help our hardworking staff and volunteers by beginning clean-up 30 minutes before the end of class, helping out with common areas, and leaving class on time.

Ages: 16+ 

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