Hi all… I will be moving back home to Southern California and was
wondering if anyone could recommend a craft guild or school there
that offers beginner courses in silversmithing and fabrication. I’m
looking for something in the Inland Empire area - which includes
places like Chino, Ontario, Pomona, Montclair, Upland, etc. Your
help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance! Claudia
@Claudia
Dear Claudia, I am the student of Bon Paphatsarang, a master jeweler
who teaches at the Baldwin Park Adult School. Our Fall semester
begins Tuesday, September 2. It’s a hop, skip and jump from Fwy 10,
exit to Fwy 605 north, exit Ramona Blvd. east, exactly one mile east
turn right on Monterey Ave. If you come west on Fwy 210 from the
Pomona area, exit Fwy 605 south, exiting at Ramona Blvd. east. Same
directions after that. Within the first block on the left is a
small fine arts building, which includes a ceramics class at 3818
Monterey Ave. The phone number beginning 09/02/03 at 8:30am is
626-939-4248. We’re all on vacation right now, so you won’t be able
to reach anyone there right now. Bon has you start on a few
assigned beginners’ projects, but then runs basically an open studio
set-up, interlaced with specific instruction for beginners to
advanced. The cost is $20.00 per semester! You need to bring your
own metals and stones, and most hand tools. The torches, wax,
investment, etc. are free of charge and some hand tools are
available for use in the classroom (all very well-used). Bon will
help you build the list of tools, etc. that you need to bring. You
won’t be sorry come Sept. 3! Hope to see you there.
Kay Taylor