Touchstone Center for Crafts offers programs for creative impulses
A ceramic arts student trims off excess clay as she shapes the bottom of a spinning bowl.
Intricate twists and and circular patterns adorn a metal railing forged by Richard Sheppard.
Newly appointed executive director for Touchstone Center for Crafts Adam Kenney poses for a recent photo at the center.
Sparks fly as a blacksmith strikes hot metal as he forges a point to a spike.
Blacksmith Richard Sheppard stokes the coals at one 13 traditional forgeries at Touchstone Center for Crafts.
Blacksmith Richard Sheppard said he never turns down a project.
As a blacksmith instructor at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, Sheppard works in the Hart Moore Blacksmith Studio, which is one of the largest studios in the country, and is the home of 13 traditional coal forgeries.
Sheppard keeps a scrapbook of his projects, which includes banisters, light fixtures, candle holders and padlocks with matching keys.
鈥淭he traditional coal forgery has to have a fire that reaches 3,200 degrees Fahrenheit, but you have to know how hot your steel can get before it burns,鈥� said Sheppard.
Steel will start to spark within the fire at 2,400 degrees, meaning it is burning, he said. Copper is more sensitive and will burn at 2,000 degrees.
Sheppard said that when the steel is just hot enough, you take it out of the fire and shape it with a hammer and/or other tools until it is too cool to mold any further. A blacksmith usually has about a minute or two before the steel is too cool to work with.
A recent tour was given to members of the media who were given the opportunity to try their hands at blacksmithing and 鈥渃ome play with fire.鈥�
Sheppard instructed those who participated on how to use blacksmith tools and to work the forge.
Some of the projects for the blacksmith class include making basic blacksmith tools, jewelry, padlocks with matching keys, knives, a charcoal grill and experimenting with angles and circles.
The rural campus features seven other studios where students can practice crafts, including metal, ceramics, glass, sculpture, painting, photography and the children蘑菇视频 studio.
A class called 鈥淢etal Jewelry Made Easy鈥� is taught by Jan Loney. In this class, students learn how to make jewelry only with wire wrapping and hammered wire jewelry.
In the photography studio, students not only learn photography and printing, but also work on what is called a book arts project taught by Janice Patrignani.
Patrignani teaches students how to use paste paper and cornstarch to make wallpaper-like books. Her projects also include accordion books, tin art, buttonhole binding and origami star books.
The glass studio offers classes in stained glass, sculpted flowers, jewelry design and bead-making, among other projects.
鈥淭ouchstone is very well-rounded,鈥� said Stefanie Glover, operations manager at Touchstone. 鈥淗ere, at Touchstone, we offer classes for all levels of learners from beginner to advanced.鈥�
Glover said that the campus is more 鈥渇amily friendly鈥� because it features a children蘑菇视频 studio.
The campus is located on 150 acres, of which only 25 acres are developed, said Glover. The undeveloped acres provide students for good use of oil painting, a getaway and a meditation garden, she said.
The classes last one week and cost $500. Touchstone also offers weekend classes in April, May, September and October.
Financial aid is available through scholarships and work study.
Glover said that there are typically 10 to 12 students in each class so that all students can receive individual attention.
Touchstone has on-campus residential lodging, including 22 cabins, two dormitories, a dining hall, nature trails, a bathhouse, camping sites and a gift shop.
Every Thursday at 7 p.m., Touchstone hosts an auction of the art from each studio, including the children蘑菇视频 studio, said Glove. All of the proceeds benefit Touchstone, which is a nonprofit organization.
鈥淭he auction is really great because the instructors also donate their own crafts to the auctions, which could cost a great deal more if bought elsewhere,鈥� said Glover.
Touchstone also offers what is called a Senior Citizens Life Enhancement Program, where the elderly can either come to the campus or instructors will go into nursing homes and teach classes that are typically ceramics, print making and sculpting.
Touchstone also has someone new at the helm.
The board of directors recently hired Adam Kenney as its new executive director.
Kenney has experience as a craft artist and an arts management professional. The board feels that Kenney蘑菇视频 background will help will Touchstone expand its role as Pennsylvania蘑菇视频 only residential craft school.
鈥淭ouchstone蘑菇视频 executive director search committee did a comprehensive and exhaustive job throughout our search process,鈥� said Frank Golba, president of the board of directors.
Golba said, 鈥淥nce the committee presented its recommendation to the board and we all had a chance to meet with Adam, everyone felt that Adam was the right person for Touchstone. His passion for the arts and his own experience as an artist led him to further his education and pursue a career in arts management. Those experiences, his educational background and his enthusiasm made this choice easy.鈥�
Kenney will also play a vital role in the development of educational partnerships and programming with local school districts, colleges and universities.
鈥淲hile dynamic seasonal programming is definitely part of the equation, I want to explore how Touchstone can increase its organizational impact in the communities of southwestern Pennsylvania all year round,鈥� said Kenney.
In addition, Kenney will focus on establishing key relationships with donors, members, instructors, students, similar arts organizations and master art guilds.
The facilities at Touchstone also are available to rent for banquets, meetings, reunions, weddings or other events.
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For registration and other information, call 724 329 1370 or visit the website at www.touchstonecrafts.org.