Fine and Decorative Metalworking

Masterclass Series 2012 1. About the Fine and Decorative Metalworking Masterclass Series 2012 Benefitting from Designation Development Fund (DDF) support Museums Sheffield and the Academy of Makers are delighted to offer a summer season of Fine and Decorative Metalworking Masterclasses and a Masterclass Weekend Residency at very affordable prices. The series gives you the opportunity to discover the art of fine metalworking inspired by collections and exhibitions at Millennium Gallery and work with some of the country’s leading designer makers. Participants will be given unique insight into the Designated metalwork collection at Museums Sheffield and will create their own piece of fine and decorative metalware tutored by award-winning designer makers from the Academy of Makers based in Butcher Works. Participants can attend just one masterclass as a taster or build their skills by joining in the series.

2. Days, Dates and Times:

1. Fine and Decorative Metalworking Masterclass 1: Saturday 19 May; 10.00am – 4.30pm

2. Fine and Decorative Metalworking Masterclass 2: Saturday 16 June; 10.00am – 4.30pm

3. Fine and Decorative Metalworking Masterclass 3: Saturday 14 July;

4. Fine and Decorative Metalworking Masterclass Weekend Residency: Saturday 15; 10.00am – 4.30pm & Sunday 16 September; 10.30am – 4.30pm

3. Venue: Meet at Millennium Gallery for an introduction to Sheffield’s Designated Collection of Metalwork before relocating to Butcher Works, 72 Arundel Street, Sheffield, S1 2NS (about 5 minutes walk away). 4. Cost: Master classes: £50 per person, per day (concessions: £45) Weekend Residency: £100 per person (concessions: £90) The Fine and Decorative Master classes include the cost of basic materials. On small items in the jewellery workshops this will include some work in sterling silver. Items made in spoon forging and spinning will be in other metals (see each workshop description). Where appropriate you can choose to have these pieces silver plated, this may incur a modest fee to cover material expenses. If you wish to make larger items in Sterling Silver the cost of materials will be added to the charge for the workshop. All solid silver work will be sent to Sheffield Assay Office for hallmarking. Silver work made in 2012 will have an additional Assay stamp, the commemorative Diamond Jubilee hallmark. We recommend you discuss this with your workshop tutor.

5. To Book: As places are strictly limited, pre-booking is essential. Places are offered on a strict first-come, first-served basis. There will be a reserve list if places become available. Bookings for the 19 May Masterclass close on Friday 11 May Bookings for the 16 June Masterclass close on Friday 8 June Bookings for the 14 July Masterclass close on Friday 6 July Bookings for the 15/16 September Weekend Residency close on Friday 7 September Telephone: 0114 278 2655 Email: learning@museums-sheffield.org.uk 6. The Masterclasses: Saturdays: 19 May, 16 June, 14 July When booking you will be asked to select from the following options:

1. Metal spinning with Dave Allison, Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. This workshop will start by teaching spinning on a soft metal, such as aluminium. People who master this craft will then go on to spin a brass bowl or goblet, which can be silver plated. Available: 16 June; 15 September; 16 September

2. Jewellery and Lapidary, cutting, polishing and inlaying semi- precious stones with Richard Priestley. This workshop with teach you how to polish and tube set a stone to make a silver ring or pendant. Available: 19 May; 14 July

3. Spoon forging with Ryan Mclean, contemporary designer and silversmith working in traditional techniques. In this workshop you will hand forge a copper spoon. We recommend that people book two workshops for this activity. Copper

is a softer metal than silver and makes it easier to learn forging techniques. Polished copper spoons are beautiful objects but they can be silver plated if required. People wishing to forge a solid silver spoon are recommended to forge a copper spoon first. Forging a solid silver spoon will incur additional material costs. Available: All dates

4. Sterling silver jewellery making with Victoria Kershaw, contemporary designer and silversmith. After attending a 1 day workshop you will be able to take home a completed bracelet or earrings. This workshop looks at traditional techniques of texturing the surface of silver. Available: All dates

For the Masterclass you will meet at Millennium Gallery for a brief introduction to Sheffield’s Designated Collection of metalwork before walking down to Butcher Works (about 5 minutes walk away). There, you will be introduced to a range of contemporary fine and decorative metalwork created by the designer makers at the Academy of Makers. You will then join your maker/tutor in their workshop for the master class. Tea and coffee are provided. Lunch is not provided so you can bring your own lunch or choose to have lunch at Fusion Café set in the stunningly restored Butcher Works. The café offers a range of delicious, organic light meals including salads, sandwiches, soups and daily specials much of the organic produce sourced locally. On 19 May and 14 July you will have opportunity to view the Butcher Works grinding troughs in action. By the end of the day you will either have created an individual piece of fine metalwork you can take home with you or that you can work on further by booking on to a further session. For a modest additional fee to cover material expenses you can chose to have your piece silver plated and/or stamped with the commemorative Diamond Jubilee hallmark. We recommend you discuss this with your workshop tutor.

7. The Masterclass Weekend Residency: Saturday and Sunday 15 and 16 September The culmination of our Fine and Decorative Metalworking Masterclass Series. This weekend gives you the opportunity to extend your fine and decorative making skills over a full two days with expert tuition from award winning designer makers based at Butcher Works. On the Saturday you will meet at Millennium Gallery for a brief introduction to Sheffield’s Designated Collection of metalwork before walking down to Butcher Works (about 5 minutes walk away). There, you will be introduced to a range of contemporary fine and decorative metalwork created by the designer makers at the Academy of Makers. You will then join your maker/tutor in their workshop for the masterclass. Tea and coffee are provided. Lunch is not provided so you can bring your own lunch or choose to have lunch on the Saturday at Fusion Café or on the Sunday at Millennium Gallery Café serving a wide selection of light refreshments or hearty meals.

By the end of the weekend you will have created an individual piece of fine metalwork you can take home or for a modest fee to cover material expenses you can chose to have your piece silver plated and stamped with the Jubilee year hallmark. We recommend you discuss this with your workshop tutor. Options available: You can choose to spend the whole weekend with just one designer maker or work with a different designer maker on each day.

1. Metal spinning with Dave Allison 2. Spoon forging with Ryan Mclean (We recommend that you

book both days with Ryan for this activity). 3. Sterling silver jewellery making with Victoria Kershaw

8. About the Designer-maker Tutors: Dave Allison – Silver Spinner. Allison is a metal spinner with over 37 years experience. He was apprentice trained at Cooper Brothers + Sons, Sheffield. Allison works with top quality silversmiths to realise their individual designs. He is a maker of many prestigious trophies, including the St. Ledger Trophy and the Millies, awards for servicemen in action. Dave Allison makes his own designs, works to commission and delivers workshops in spinning. He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. www.silver-spinner.co.uk

Richard Priestley is a designer and maker of contemporary jewellery in silver and gold with precious and semi precious stones. Priestley a lapidiarist with over twenty years' experience, and as a consequence many of his own designs are inlaid with stone. Priestley’s designs have clean lines but retain an organic feel, showing the beauty of the stone.

The method of inlaying the stone often makes the pieces very tactile. All Priestley’s jewellery is completely handmade and, due to the nature of the stone, each is unique in its own way.

Priestley welcomes visitors to his workshop buy pieces or discuss commissions or simply to see the processes used in his work. He also undertakes specialist lapidary work for the jewellery and antique trade.

www.escafelddesigns.co.uk

Ryan McClean is a designer silversmith. He studied at Manchester Metropolitan University where he completed a BA Hons in 3D Design. Following his degree he studied at Bishops Land Educational Trust on a residential programme specifically for jewellers and silversmiths, where he honed his craft. McClean was Artist in Residence at Glasgow School of Art for 2 years. He followed this with a second 2 year residency at Birmingham School of Jewellery. McClean taught undergraduate students during both residencies. McClean designs and makes his own pieces, works to commission and offers silversmith workshops. www.ryanmccleansilver.co.uk

Victoria Kershaw. Designer silversmith Victoria Kershaw studied at Liverpool Hope University College where she completed a BA Design degree with a first class (Hons). She then went onto study for an MA at the Royal College of Art and graduated in 2004.

Kershaw produces functional tableware and combines silver with other materials such as concrete and rubber. She produces her work either in small batches or as one-off pieces and undertakes private commissions.

Kershaw teaches jewellery to Freeman College students and runs evening classes to the general public.

www.victoriakershaw.com

9. About The Academy of Makers at Freeman College:

The Academy of Makers for designer makers has been established on the ground floor of Butcher Works on Arundel Street in Sheffield.

Workshops at the Academy of Makers house makers and crafts people, continuing the tradition of small craft businesses in this historic building. Makers run their businesses from these workshops and offer apprenticeships to the students of Freeman College.

The Academy of Makers houses Butcher Works Gallery that exhibits and sells high quality craft work offering a stunning opportunity for new and established makers and artists

Butcher Works is a restored cutlery and grinding workshop in Sheffield, located within the Cultural Industries Quarter (CIQ). Butcher Works is a historic building holding architectural and historical significance within the city and is Grade II* Listed. Built in 1835 the ground floor of Butcher Works has been carefully restored to create Butcher Works Gallery, the Ruskin Arts & Crafts shop, the Academy of Makers workshops and the award winning Fusion café.

The Academy of Makers is a part of Freeman College, Ruskin Mill Trust (Charity Number: 1137167). The Trust delivers a specialist craft based curriculum for young adults with Autistic spectrum conditions and associated development delay. The unique curriculum takes its roots from the work of Rudolf Steiner and John Ruskin. Freeman College, Sheffield is the third college established by the trust and following the city tradition has metal work as its core craft workshop.

Ruskin Mill Trust is a charitable educational Trust which operates three colleges; Ruskin Mill in Nailsworth, Glasshouse College in Stourbridge and Freeman College in Sheffield.

The colleges provide an innovative and experiential education for 16 to 25 year olds with special learning needs.

In 1984 Aonghus Gordon, the founder of RMET discovered that when young people with learning difficulties, including autistic

spectrum disorders and developmental delay worked with craftspeople in natural environments on real-life, purposeful tasks, their personal, emotional, social skills and health improved dramatically. Since the first college was set up at Ruskin Mill, hundreds of students have experienced the unique learning opportunities at one of three colleges.

Artists based at the site are part of the ‘Academy of Makers’ and are involved in running workshops and tutoring students from Freeman College.

Students from Freeman College benefit greatly from experiencing true work experience in this exceptional setting.

www.academyofmakers.co.uk

10. About the Designated Metalwork collection at Museums Sheffield: Sheffield is known throughout the world foremost for its association with steel and cutlery: in the 1800s primarily for its pioneer steelmakers and innovation, and more recently for processing and finishing. While Sheffield's worldwide renown as a producer may have been eclipsed during the 1900s, its metalwork trades continued and flourish. Museums Sheffield is custodian of a collection of finished metalwork, awarded Designated Status in 1999 in recognition of its outstanding national and historical significance. The collection is made up of some 13,000 items including what is probably the most extensive grouping of Sheffield-made cutlery, flatware (forks and spoons) and holloware (eg bowls, teapots, containers) in existence. It represents the light metals trades of Sheffield's long manufacturing and craft history. Most importantly the collections reflect the stories of generations of families who worked in the city and whose labour and skill contributed to its enormous success. The collection mostly comprises items for domestic use, such as cutlery and tableware. This includes table knives and flatware, and material for the export trade such as Bowie knives in common use during the

expansion of the American west. The collection also includes domestic equipment such as razors and scissors as well as material related to the cutlery trades such as horn, pearl and ivory knife handles. In addition it contains comparative items drawn from the cultures of Europe, Africa and Asia and range from flint knives dating from 2500BC to high quality silverware and stainless steel made today. The collection of holloware is an intrinsic part of the Designated Metalwork Collection. It includes small collections of silver and electroplate, but most importantly two significant collections of Britannia metal and Old Sheffield Plate. These two metals, developed in Sheffield from the mid 1700s, include items made for the home such as teapots, candlesticks, tankards and snuff boxes, manufactured by well known local firms. You can search the collection online: www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/collections/metalwork or visit the permanent exhibition at the Millennium Gallery.

11. For Further Information and for informal enquiries about the Masterclass Series contact: Jon Bradley, Communities Manager, Museums Sheffield 0114 278 2686 Jon.bradley@museums-sheffield.org.uk www.museums-sheffield.org.uk