Metalsmithing & Jewelry
Are you interested in the creative possibilities of metal? In Metalsmithing & Jewelry, you will learn how to manipulate and work with its unique properties.
In the studio, you will learn about metals such as copper, brass, nickel, silver, and gold. You will discover that metal is strong enough to build with, malleable enough to be formed, easily melted to cast objects, and soft enough to create various surface textures and finishes. Through technical hand skill-building and conceptual exploration, students combine processes to create jewelry, hollowware, small sculpture, and functional objects.
You will develop craftsmanship while exploring the materials. Foundational techniques such as piercing, filing, small–scale forging, various forming techniques, soldering, cold-connecting, and surface finishing are covered. Advanced students further explore casting, enameling, hollow construction, and more advanced forming. Throughout metalsmithing courses, you are encouraged to discover your own vision through research and experimentation and to develop a personal practice.
You can emphasize in Metalsmithing while pursuing any of the following:
- BFA Art/Studio Art Track
- BA/BS Art/Studio Art Track
- BFA Art/Art Education P-12 Certification Track
- BA/BS Art/Art Education P-12 Certification Track
How can metalsmithing & jewelry fit in my degree? What career options will I have with an art degree?
Whether you want to emphasize in Metalsmithing & Jewelry, incorporate metal into your work in another studio area, or take metalsmithing classes as electives, the Metalsmithing & Jewelry program will help you build technical proficiency, develop your artistic voice, and prepare for your career goals. Students focusing in Metalsmithing & Jewelry have gone on to careers in fine jewelry, studio practice, craft entrepreneurship, and graduate study.
“The Jewelry and Metalsmithing program at Murray State University provided me with a strong technical foundation and hands-on experience, including soldering, stone setting, and fabrication techniques, that I use daily in my professional career as a bench jeweler. Professor Jeanne Beaver is a fantastic teacher and mentor for anyone interested in exploring metalsmithing. I wholeheartedly recommend this program!”
Facilities
- 2,469 square feet of studio space
- Air acetylene gas torches
- Table and bench shears
- Bending brake
- Draw bench
- Anvils, stakes, hammers, and hardwood stumps for forming/forging
- Metalsmithing and Jewelry specific shared studio handtools
- Buffing/polishing area
- 2 electric enameling kilns
- Burnout kiln
- Oxy Acetylene torch
- Centrifugal casting unit
- All students have use of their own individual workbench and tool kit.
- Individual studio spaces are available for Metals IV and above.
- 24 hour access
Student Work
