B.F.A. with an Emphasis in Metals/Jewelry
Program Overview
The Metals/Jewelry program invites Â鶹´«Ã½s 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, Â鶹´«Ã½s 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, Â鶹´«Ã½s further their understanding of various theoretical principles through intensive construction problems to develop wearable and functional objects. Advanced courses offer Â鶹´«Ã½s 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 Â鶹´«Ã½s 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 Â鶹´«Ã½s 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½s 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 Â鶹´«Ã½s, 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