silverworks chain
newsletter for the emerging silversmith
February 2014
Greetings!
Can't wait for the snow to clear for good? No kidding. Well when we aren't kept from the studio due to snow days there is a lot going on. A new face, some upcoming events and a peek at what your fellow smithys are up too are in this issue.
See Me at Baltimore Bead Society this Tuesday!




"Setting Up A Creative Workspace: Tips for a Silversmith"
This Tuesday, March 11 from 6:30- 10:00pm
at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City. Visitors welcome.
Helena Liden Introducing
Helena Liden

If you are in Open Studio you may have already been lucky enough to meet her, but if not SilverWorks is pleased to introduce an additional face to our team. You will be seeing her managing the new Monday Open Studios, and even a few other days...
Read more about Helena.

Something to work towards...

5 Years of SilverWorks:
A Celebration of Techniques

An exhibit of the works of
Mawadda Alaswadi and Blair Anderson
September 19 to October 19, 2014, Glen Echo Park Popcorn Gallery

Mawadda & Blair The good folk at the park have seen fit to award me another show this year, but this time it is with the Robin to my Batman, the Garfunkel to my Simon, the Natasha to my Boris, the... well you get the idea, the fabulous Mawadda. This year our dynamic duo will bring all our skills to bear to showcase our best of the techniques you have come to learn and love at SilverWorks. (plus a few you have not seen yet!)

But as always we would like for you to play along. We would love all of our students to submit something technique specific this year. So this is your heads-up! Keum Boo, Chasing, Fold Forming, even Reticulation. Put your best foot forward. Fire up that torch and we will see you in September! More submission info when the time gets closer.
Blackened Earlobes?
by Helena Liden

Did you ever wonder why your earlobes sometimes turn black from wearing silver jewelry? Silver oxidizes from hydrogen sulfides in the air we breathe and causes silver to tarnish. This is not a quick reaction, though, and does not explain the blackening of your skin just on the day when you are wearing a specific piece of jewelry! Read more...

Update: Bahamas Project 
Exnihilo to be Promoted on Fox TV!
Airdate TBA 
Thanks to everyone who participated in our Indiegogo campaign. We raised over fifteen thousand dollars in just 45 days! Although that is a lot, it does not enable us to build just yet, but rest assured we are working diligently towards other means of support to get Exnihilo off the ground...

We were approached by a Fox produced television show that promotes projects in need of funding during a half hour show. The CrowdFunder Show runs a campaign via Fundrazr and then features the project.  
What will this do for Exnihilo Art Center you ask?
    *     potential exposure to Fox's 9 million viewers
    *     more financial support for the project

Here is the interesting part...

Gift cards to MATCH donations.
That's right you heard me. Participants "give" to the project and in return get to choose a gift card in the equivalent of that "donation".

I KNOW! Sounds crazy but it is all thanks to the generous sponsors of the show and that is why we are so excited!  
And the cards are for places like Sears, Home Depot, Starbucks, Best Buy and more. Stuff people actually use!
Our show's air date is yet to be announced but CrowdFunder already has a campaign running here. We will keep you posted on our air date.
Keep up with the Exnihilo Newsletter

Stay in the loop with what is going on with the whole big Bahamas project. Future events, trips, and specials!
In This Issue
Studio Tips
Upcoming Classes
New Workshops
Studio Spotting

Upcoming Beginner Classes at SilverWorks...
 
lost wax pour
Intro to Lost Wax Casting!
Learn all the basics to this ancient technique. No experience necessary


Intro to Lost Wax Casting
$325
Tuesday Mornings 10:30am-1:30pm
April 22-May 6
3 sessions

more info here.
Register NOW.
keum boo at SilverWorks
New Saturday Workshops at SilverWorks! 
We have added some exciting all-day Saturday workshops from our Silver Passport series.

Studio Spotting!
See what your fellow smithys are making in open studio!
"Jumbley Chain" by Peggy Irving

Blair Anderson
About the Director
Blair Anderson is an artist in residence at Glen Echo Park, MD.

 


I hope that SilverWorks continues to be your creative playground.
Blair Anderson
Director & Instructor
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