Groundworks Art Lab

Our Wood and Metal studios are birds of a feather in this eight-week studio crossover class! These studios are teaming up to teach you how to make your very own three-dimensional sculptural wall hanging of a wooden bird in a metal tree.

Students will spend four weeks in our Wood Studio receiving instruction in carving in the round using basswood (a light, easy to carve wood from the linden trees) using chisels and gouges, the band saw, rasps, and rotary and sanding tools to create their bird sculpture. The other four weeks will be in our Metal Studio, learning the basics of MIG welding, forging/blacksmithing to shape the tree background for their bird.

This is the perfect opportunity to try your hand at two art forms for the price of one and come away with an amazing and unique piece of art all your own!

This class has no prerequisites and is specifically set up for absolute beginners to both of these art forms. Our Metal and Wood Studios do 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, and long pants. 

• Sparks fly in the Metal Studio, so we recommend wearing long sleeves and a shirt that covers your whole chest.

• 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!

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+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, July 28 at 8:00am.