B.F.A. with an Emphasis in Metals/Jewelry
Program Overview
The Metals/Jewelry program invites students to explore material and technique through a diverse range of practices. The program emphasizes conceptual development through historic and experimental processes that combine craft-based metalsmithing techniques with emerging technologies. In our state-of-the-art metals/jewelry studio, students focus on practical and innovative approaches to creating adornment, functional objects, and sculptural works in relation to space and the body by utilizing non-ferrous metals and/or alternative materials.
Beginning courses have a significant amount of demonstrations combined with slide lectures and discussions on readings that address specific technical applications with metal. In intermediate course work, students further their understanding of various theoretical principles through intensive construction problems to develop wearable and functional objects. Advanced courses offer students the opportunity to balance their material proficiencies with conceptual thinking. The curriculum emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to working in metals/jewelry by offering special topics courses that cover a multitude of specializations. Topics such as forming; casting; enameling; anodizing; CAD/CAM technology; alternative materials; production jewelry & craft marketing; and interactivity/embodiment are examined. The metals/jewelry program encourages students to be innovative through their use of alternative materials, digital/emerging technologies, and approaches to documentation. The diverse skillsets taught in this program will help graduates be prepared to take on a wide range of professional positions in the metals/jewelry and adjacent fields.
Facilities
The metals/jewelry studio consists of several rooms, in which the main bench room is the nexus for all the process rooms. These separate process rooms are for enameling/anodizing, casting, digital fabrication/prototyping, metal forming and smithing, photo documentation, and BFA studio. Advanced level students are assigned a bench space in the BFA studio. The digital fabrication/prototyping area has equipment for laser cutting/etching, vinyl cutting, and FDM and SLA 3D printers.
Tools/Equipment
- Twenty jewelers benches each equipped with a Flex Shaft, steel, and rubber bench block (main studio)
- Five BFA jewelers benches each equipped with a Flex Shaft, steel, and rubber bench block (BFA studio)
- Rolling mills (electric and manual)
- Hydraulic press with deep draw
- Draw bench
- Engraver's ball
- Vulcanizer
- Small metal lathe
- Nine acetylene torches
- Six natural gas/air torches
- Small natural gas forge
- Wide variety of raising stakes and specialty hammers
- Sinusoidal stakes
- Oval and round bracelet mandrels
- Repousse' pitch bowls
- Chasing tools
- Four Paragon programmable casting kilns
- Vacuum casting machine
- Centrifugal casting machine
- Variety of flasks and other casting equipment
- Ingot molds—both hand held and table top
- Three double sided polishing motors with exhaust systems
- Ultrasonic cleaner and Steamer
- Lapidary equipment
- Drill presses
- Multiple mannequins
- Comprehensive enameling equipment and kilns
- Rectifier for electro etching and anodizing
- Table vises
- Jump shear
- Bending brake
- Small slip roller
- Photography and video equipment for documenting student work
- Critique tables
- Various hand tools specific to metals/jewelry processes, such as ring mandrels, tubing jigs and files
- Powder Coating gun and oven
- SLA 3D Printer
- FDM 3D Printer
- Vinyl Cutter
- 2 MAC Computers
- Glowforge Plus
- Specialized display case for student work
CURRICULUM: Bachelor of fine arts WITH AN EMPHASIS IN Metals/Jewelry
Basic studies requirement—18 credits
- ART 1040 Object Drawing
- ART 1050 Drawing Studio
- ART 1070 Form and Surface
- ART 1080 Form and Space
- ART 2170 Writing About Art and Design
- ART 2360 Professional Practice
Art History — 12 credits
Two of the four 2000-level Art History courses (6 hours)
- ART 2200 Caves to Cathedrals
- ART 2210 Modern and Postmodern
- ART 2220 Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- ART 2230 Introduction to Asian Art History
And
Two additional Art History courses at the 3000 or 4000-level, or at the 5000-level with instructor approval.
Metals/Jewelry Emphasis Requirement—22 credits
- ART 2380 Metals & Jewelry I (3 credits)
- ART 3380 Metals & Jewelry II (3 credits)
- ART 3070 Topics in Metals & Jewelry (3 credits) – repeatable for credit
- ART 4500 3D Contemporary Practice (3 credits)
- ART 4700 Topics in Studio Art (3 credits) – repeatable for credit
- ART 4830 Senior Project I (fall 3 credits)
- ART 4840 Senior Project II (spring 4 credits)
Art studio electives—33 credits
Three hours of non-western art history, and all art education credits, may be applied to the elective requirement.
SUMMARY OF BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS WITH AN EMPHASIS IN METALS/JEWELRY
- Art Major—85 credits
- General Education—37 credits
- Total Credit Hours—122 credits
Students should consult the WMU catalog for the metals/jewelry program course descriptions and requirements.
Visiting Artists
The mission of Frostic School of Art’s Visiting Artist program is tri-fold: to provide students direct, meaningful contact with working artists, both established and emerging; to elevate the regional, national, and international profile of the Frostic School of Art and Richmond Center for Visual Arts; and to nurture a sense of community among students, faculty and staff within WMU’s College of Fine Arts. Recent visiting artists and scholars that supported the metals/jewelry curriculum include; Motoko Furuhashi, Lauren Tickle-Tietje, Tedd McDonah, Michael Nashef, Danielle James, Laurel Fulton, and Daniel DiCaprio.
Portfolio reviews
Portfolio reviews for admission into the B.F.A. program with an emphasis in metals/jewelry will be held in the second week of November and March.
Faculty
Student Work
Eric Ricchi