I’ve decided that I would like some traditional professional jewelry
education - my schooling was strictly the artistic side of the
trade, and I am seriously lacking in a lot of the technical skills. I
live in Indiana, so there aren’t a lot of options for me if I don’t
want to go too far. What I really want is to learn stone setting &
goldsmithing, as well as the basic repair things. I’ve found two
places that seem promising: Connor Jeweler’s School in New Albany,
Indiana, and Drouhard National Jeweler’s School in Mansfield, Ohio.
Both seem to have good programs; Drouhard’s seems to be cheaper,
although I’m not sure if the class length is the same in both (I’ve
e-mailed Connor’s to clarify this).
My question for you all is whether you know anything about either of
these schools, and do you recommend one over the other? Or is there
another place that you would recommend instead? I want to stay within
my bordering states, so preferably within Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,
Kentucky, or Illinois. I might be willing to go further if I become
convinced that it would be worth it.
Try TIJT - Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology in Paris Texas. 25
Miles from Oklahoma’s Indian Nation Turn Pike to the north. A world
class technical school. Check it out.
Try TIJT - Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology in Paris Texas.
25 Miles from Oklahoma's Indian Nation Turn Pike to the north. A
world class technical school. Check it out.
Thanks for the tip, Robb, but unfortunately Texas is way too far for
me to go.
Also, I guess I didn’t really make this clear - I need a place with
one-week programs or something only on weekends, because I can’t
designate a whole semester to take a program. I do have a full time
job, and do not have the funds to take that much time off of work.
I’m not looking for art programs - I already have a Bachelor of Fine
Arts. I just want to learn some basic bench jeweler skills to add to
my techniques (I’m not looking to actually get a job as a bench
jeweler).
Anyone else have any place to refer me to in the Midwest? Or did I
find the only two available already?
I graduated from Connors. If you are looking for basic jewelry
skills you will get them there. The focus is on jewelry repair, and
stone setting with additional classes in waxes, molds, and casting.
We worked in gold, silver, and had a chance to touch on platinum. The
classes were small and very personal, which I needed since my
background was self-taught jewelry beading and wire wrapping, and I
really didn’t have any experience using a torch. I was very satisfied
with what was offered. It gave me a good basic foundation that I have
used to expand what I have been doing with my jewelry. I live in
southern Indiana, so if you want to contact me off-line, that’s
great.
I just want to learn some basic bench jeweler skills to add to my
techniques (I'm not looking to actually get a job as a bench
jeweler).
Jen - Can you find a local rock club? They can help you find a
beginning jewelry making class. Or look to your local community
college or senior citizen center. Senior citizen centers usually
don’t limit offerings to seniors. Often they teach the basic skills
on a hobbyist level. That would get you started locally and cheaply.
If you have a jewelry supply shop, ask them where to learn. Many
stores now have a school too.
I sometimes think we send folks off to learn how to make a clock
when they simply want to find out what time it is.
And to defend the hobbyist level instruction - there are some
incredible artists working to amuse themselves. They may not be able
to size 20 rings an hour, but they can make pretty much any kind of
jewelry and do it very well. They often teach locally.
I took my first jewelry making class at a community center. We sawed
out a piece with lots of internal detail and made a pendant of it.
Then we made a ring with a stone. That was 6 evenings at two hours
each. It got me started. I then took several semesters of
metalsmithing at a community college. In the middle of that, I took a
GIA jewelry class. It was very good, but I didn’t have the “bench
time” experience to absorb the terrific instruction. Start simple.
Figure out what you want to learn. Get the books and magazines that
deal with technique. Learn on your own after some simple hands on.
After that, you may want to go to Revere or one of the big
non-degree schools to learn more techniques.
Lastly, if you can find a local metalsmithing organization, they
often have good classes on weekends. Colorado Metalsmithing
Association and Pennsylvania Society of Goldsmiths are good examples.
Regarding your question about the two schools - Connor or Drouhard -
both offer good programs and have good reputations. I don’t have
personal experience with either, but I know plenty of people who
have, and I have always heard good reports.
Another great resource for jewelry skills training is community
colleges and education extension programs. These programs are always
under-funded and therefore not marketed outside their college course
catalogs. I have met incredible instructors associated with local
community college and university programs, from whom you would
receive excellent instruction. You may find a college very near you
where you could accomplish your skills training over a series of
evening or weekend classes, and some colleges offer week-long or
multi-week programs in the summer. I haven’t been maintaining my
schools directory in about a year, so some of the following
may be slightly outdated, but here is the I
have on programs in the states you mentioned (also, some of them
will be more design or fine art in focus - sorry, but my list
includes both). You’ll have to do a little legwork to see if they are
offering weekend, evening, summer or condensed technical skill
programs:
Indiana
Anderson - Anderson College, Art Department, Fifth & College,
46012; (317) 641-4320.
Bloomington - Indiana University, Henry Radford Hope School of
Fine Arts, Fine Arts Building #123, 47405; (812) 855-7766; fax (812)
855-7498; e-mail faoffice@indiana.edu.
Goshen - Goshen College, Art Department, 1700 S. Main St., 46526;
(574) 535-7400; e-mail judymw@goshen.edu.
Indianapolis - The Indianapolis Art Center used to have a jewelry
program. I don’t know if it was more design related or more
technical skills related, but it would be worth looking into.
Marion - Indiana Wesleyan University, Art Department, 4201 S.
Washington, 46953; (765) 674-6901.
Mishawaka - There used to be a bench training program in Mishawaka
IN called Benchmark. I know at one point they offered 12 week
courses. I couldn’t find a phone number for them in my records, so I
couldn’t confirm if they are still in business.
Muncie - Ball State University, Art Department, Attention: Pat
Nelson, 47306; (765) 285-5797; fax (765) 285-5275; e-mail
pnelson@bsu.edu.
Allendale - Grand Valley State University, Art & Design
Department, 1105 CAC, 49401; (616) 331-5000.
Ann Arbor - University of Michigan, School of Art & Design, 2000
Bonisteel Blvd., 48109-2069; (734) 764-0397; fax (734) 936-0469;
e-mail a&d@umich.edu.
Birmingham - Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, 1516 S. Cranbrook
Rd., 48009; (248) 644-0866; fax (248) 644-7904.
Bloomfield Hills - Cranbrook Academy of Art (Graduate program),
39221 North Woodward Ave., P.O. Box 801, 48303-0801; (248) 645-3300;
fax (248) 646-0046.
Detroit - College for Creative Studies - College of Art and
Design, Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design, 201 E. Kirby, 48202-4034;
(313) 664-7400; fax (313) 872-8377.
Detroit - Wayne State University, Department of Art and Art
History, 150 Community Arts, 48202; (810) 762-0443.
Flint - Charles Stewart Mott Community College, School of Arts &
Humanity, Art Area, 1401 E. Court St., 48502; (810) 762-0443.
Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S. Park St.,
49007-5102; (616) 349-7775; fax (616) 349-9313; e-mail school@kiarts.org.
Carbondale - Southern Illinois University, School of Art and
Design, Mail Code 4301, 62901-4301; (618) 453-4315; fax (618)
453-7710.
Champaign - Parkland College, School of Fine and Applied Arts,
2400 W. Bradley, 61821; (217) 351-2200; fax (217) 351-2581.
Champaign - University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign, School of Art
& Design, 408 E. Peabody Dr., 61820; (217) 333-0855 or (217)
244-7101; fax (217) 244-7688; e-mail theide@uiuc.edu.
Chicago - Lillstreet Art Center, 4401 N. Ravenswood, 60640; (773)
769-4226; e-mail lillstreet@lillstreet.com.
Chicago - Loyola University of Chicago, Fine Arts Department, 6525
N. Sheridan Rd., 60626; (773) 508-2820; fax (773) 508-2282.
Chicago - Northeastern Illinois University, Art Department, 5500
N. St. Louis, 60625; (773) 583-4050, ext. 2644.
DeKalb - Northern Illinois University, School of Art, 60115-2854;
(815) 753-7851; fax (815) 753-7701.
Elgin - Elgin Community College, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Division, 1700 Spartan Dr., 60123; (847) 214-7341; fax (847)
622-3048; e-mail hrusso@elgin.edu.
Glen Ellyn - College of Dupage, Division of Humanities, IC
Building 3098C, 425 Fawell Blvd., 60137; (630) 942-4291; fax (630)
942-3711; e-mail storke@cdnet.cod.edu.
Joliet - Joliet Junior College, Fine Arts Department, 1215 Houbolt
Rd., 60431-8938; (815) 729-9020 ext. 2223.
Macomb - Western Illinois University, Art Department, 32 Garwood
Hall, 61455-1396; (309) 298-1549; fax (309) 298-2605; e-mail
k-winters1@wiu.edu.
Normal - Illinois State University, Department of Art, Campus Box
5620, 61790-5620; (309) 438-5621; fax (309) 438-8318; e-mail
isuart@ilstu.edu.
Quincy - Gem City College, 700 State St., 62306; (217) 222-0391;
fax (217) 222-1557; e-mail GemCity@adams.net.
Ohio
Ada - Ohio Northern University, Department of Art, Wilson Art
Center, 525 South Main St., 45810; (419) 772-2160; fax (419)
772-2164; e-mail art@onu.edu.
Akron - University of Akron, Myers School of Art, 44325-7801;
(330) 972-6030; fax (330) 972-5960; e-mail ssimms@uakron.edu.
Bowling Green - Bowling Green State University, School of Art,
1000 Fine Arts Center, 43403; (419) 372-2786; fax (419) 372-2544.
Canton - Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. North, 44702;
(330) 453-7666; fax (330) 453-1034; e-mail al@cantonart.org.
Cincinnati - College of Mount St. Joseph, Art Department, 5701
Delhi Rd., 45233-1670; (513) 244-4420; fax (513) 244-4942.
Cleveland - Case Western Reserve University, Art Department,
Wickenden Bldg., 44106; (216) 368-2714; fax (216) 368-2715.
Cleveland - Cleveland Institute of Art, Jewelry and Metals
Department, 11141 E. Blvd., 44106; (216) 421-7000.
Cleveland - TAP Studios Art Jewelry Workshop, 1667 E. 40th St. #3B, 44103; (216) 773-8277; e-mail gem7th@aol.com.
Columbus - Capital University, Fine Arts Department, 2199 E. Main
St., 43209; (614) 236-6011; fax (614) 236-6490.
Dayton - University of Dayton, P.V.A. Department, 300 College
Park, 45469; (937) 229-3237; fax (937) 229-4000.
Delaware - Ohio Wesleyan University, Fine Arts Department, S.
Sandusky St., 43015; (740) 369-4431; fax (740) 368-3299 Attention:
Fine Arts Department.
Harrison - American Watchmaking Institute, Jewelry & Arts
Department, 701 Enterprise Dr., 45030; (866) 367-8924; fax (513)
367-1414.
Kent - Kent State University, School of Art, P.O. Box 5190, 44242;
(330) 672-2110; fax (330) 672-4729; e-mail kbrowne@kent.edu.
Mansfield - Drouhard National Jewelers School, 2236 Main St.,
44907; (888) 663-9335.
Springfield - Wittenberg University, Art Department, P.O. Box 720,
45501; (937) 327-6311; fax (937) 327-6340.
Indianapolis - The Indianapolis Art Center used to have a
jewelry program. I don't know if it was more design related or
more technical skills related, but it would be worth looking into.
Yes, the Indianapolis Art Center has a fine jewelry program,
including casting, enameling, fabrication, metal clay and glass
fusing.
There’s a terrific ventilation system, the best of any place I’ve
ever taught. There’s ventilation for the soldering area and above the
kilns.
Students may sit at benches or tables.
Tools are well stocked.
Indy is a fun place to visit, hotels are affordable. IAC has weekend
workshops as well as on-going classes.
Wow Andrea, thanks so much! I am actually in the process of trying to
figure out if I can get instruction from someone at the Indianapolis
Art Center - they don’t have any classes on what I’m wanting, but I’m
hoping maybe someone will be willing to do a one-on-one or something.
I didn’t know there was an Indiana Jewelers Association - hadn’t
found it in any of my searches! Thanks for the contact info!! Much
appreciated!!