Summer Workshops

This course explores traditional lost wax casting, a technique over 6,000 years old, transforming wax into a finished bronze sculpture. Participants will translate an inspirational personal object of their choice into wax and then cast it into bronze.

Through the dynamic and transformative process of casting, participants will leave with a new understanding of what it means to make a new keepsake evocative of their time at Cranbrook.

Register on Eventbrite

Instructors: Iris Eichenberg, Head of Metalsmithing and Artist-in-Residence; Alissa Lamarre, Catherine Sweeney (MFA Metalsmithing 2025); Fanni Somogyi (MFA Metalsmithing 2025); and Megan Tamas, Academy Resources Manager.
Instructor Language: English

Skill Level: This workshop is open to beginners and advanced students, age 18+.

Location: Metalsmithing department of Cranbrook Academy of Art in the New Studios Building. Bronze casting will take place outdoors.
Parking: Cranbrook Art Museum Parking Lot.

Schedule Overview: 10am to 4pm daily. The detailed daily schedule of the workshop is listed on Eventbrite. The first three days of the workshop will include presentations, group discussions, 1-on-1 sessions, handbuilding a wax form, and a walking tour. The second three days will start with bronze casting, patina application discussion and application, and student presentations of their work.
Food/Beverage: Lunch and snacks will be provided. The Academy also has water bottle refill stations and vending machines near the Metalsmithing department.

Cost: $1,900.00 USD
Materials provided with the cost of the workshop: wax, hand tools, ceramic shell,  5 lbs of bronze for casting (additional material is available at extra cost), PPE – Personal Protective Equipment, safety glasses, gloves.

Required dress for safety: All participants must dress safely and appropriately while on-site to participate in this workshop. Natural fiber clothing, long pants, and shoes must have closed toes and heels. Long hair must be tied back. Nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetic fabrics are not allowed in the hot shop. Additional protective gear will be provided as needed.

If the workshop does not meet the minimum participants, it will be cancelled, and any purchases will be fully refunded.

Learn or develop your skills in the craft of jewelry-making through charms. Participants will mix hands-on skills with creative exercises to create pieces that resonate within the world of contemporary jewelry as a form of artistic expression.

By the end of this workshop, students will take home:

• A sterling silver bracelet with five charms, including one with a semi-precious stone.
• A basic jewelry kit to continue practicing at home.
• A workshop zine featuring techniques, pro tips, and advice to keep creating after the workshop.

Register on Eventbrite

Instructors: Iris Eichenberg, Head of Metalsmithing and Artist-in-Residence; and Jimena Rios, Artist, and Director of Taller Eloi, Escuela de joyería (Jewelry School).
Instructor Language: English/Spanish

Skill Level: This workshop is open to beginners and advanced students, age 18+.
Max. participants: 12

Location: Metalsmithing department of Cranbrook Academy of Art in the New Studios Building.
Parking: Cranbrook Art Museum Parking Lot.

Length: 3 Days, 6 hours each day (July 18-20)
Schedule: 10am to 4pm daily. Review the general schedule in the Agenda section on Eventbrite.
Food/Beverage: Lunch and snacks will be provided. The Academy also has water bottle refill stations and vending machines near the Metalsmithing department.

Cost: $1,375.00 USD*
Materials provided with the cost of the workshop: sterling silver, one semi-precious stone for setting, and a basic jewelry-making toolkit.

*If the workshop does not meet the minimum participants, it will be cancelled, and any purchases will be fully refunded.

Learn or develop your basic skills in the craft of jewelry-making through silver rings. Participants will mix hands-on skills with creative exercises to create pieces that resonate within the world of contemporary jewelry as a form of artistic expression.

By the end of this workshop, students will take home:

• Two sterling silver rings.
• A basic jewelry kit to continue practicing at home.
• A workshop zine featuring techniques, pro tips, and advice to keep creating after the workshop.

Register on Eventbrite

Instructors: Iris Eichenberg, Head of Metalsmithing and Artist-in-Residence; and Jimena Rios, Artist, and Director of Taller Eloi, Escuela de joyería (Jewelry School).
Instructor Language: English/Spanish

Skill Level: This workshop is open to beginners and advanced students, age 18+.
Max. participants: 12

Location: Metalsmithing department of Cranbrook Academy of Art in the New Studios Building.
Parking: Cranbrook Art Museum Parking Lot.

Length: 2 Days, 6 hours each day (July 26-27)
Schedule: 10am to 4pm daily. Review the general schedule in the Agenda section on Eventbrite.
Food/Beverage: Lunch and snacks will be provided during the workshop. The Academy also has water bottle refill stations and vending machines near the Metalsmithing department.

Cost: $1,375.00 USD*
Materials provided with the cost of the workshop: Sterling silver, an optional single stone for setting, and a basic jewelry-making toolkit.

Studio Dress: All participants must dress safely and appropriately while on-site to participate in this workshop. Natural fiber clothing, long pants, and shoes must have closed toes and no heels. Long hair must be tied back. Nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetic fabrics are not allowed in the hot shop.

*If the workshop does not meet the minimum participants, it will be cancelled, and any purchases will be fully refunded.

Learn how to hand-dye fabrics, yarns, and cord, and use these materials to build coil baskets.

The workshop begins with an introduction to immersion dyeing with Procion Mx dyes, natural dyeing with Indigo, and the historical significance of these processes. In the second half of this workshop, participants will explore coil basketry’s long history, originating from Indigenous practices in Africa and the United States using grass, leaves, and other plant fibers.

Supported by one-on-one guidance to plan their design, participants will use their hand-dyed materials to build their baskets and are encouraged to experiment with color, shape, and size!

By the end of this workshop, students will take home:

• Hand-made, custom baskets with hand-dyed yarn and fabrics.

Register on Eventbrite

Instructor: Katie Mongoven (CAA MFA Fiber 2024)
Instructor Language: English

Skill Level: This workshop is open to beginners and advanced students, age 18+.
Max. participants: 8

Location: Fiber department of Cranbrook Academy of Art in the New Studios Building.
Parking: Cranbrook Art Museum Parking Lot.

Length: 3 Days, 7 hours each day (July 31, August 1-2)
Food/Beverage: Lunch and snacks will be provided during the workshop. The Academy also has water bottle refill stations and vending machines near the Fiber department.

Cost: 450.00 USD*
Materials provided with the cost of the workshop: a variety of materials to create baskets, including braided cotton macrame cord, cotton yarn, and cotton fabrics.

Studio Dress: All participants should wear clothing and shoes they don’t mind getting stained or dirty. Comfortable closed-toe shoes, an apron, and a hair tie/bandana are recommended.

*If the workshop does not meet the minimum participants, it will be cancelled, and any purchases will be fully refunded.

This three-day workshop explores the sculptural potential of paper pulp, blending traditional papier-mâché techniques with contemporary pulp painting applications.

Participants will work with cotton linters, construction paper, and natural pigments to create vibrant, dimensional surfaces on cardboard structures.

Using nichos as a point of inspiration, we will focus on storytelling through form, color, and materiality. The workshop is designed to be flexible for different skill levels, allowing each participant to develop their creative approach to expanded paper sculpture.

By the end of this workshop, participants will take home:

• A dry‑and‑ready mixed‑media paper pulp sculpture on their design—complete with dyed pulp layers, construction paper accents, and structural reinforcement—roughly 6–8″ tall (size may vary).

Register on Eventbrite

Instructor: Meli Bandera (CAA MFA Fiber 2024)
Instructor Language: English

Skill Level: This workshop is open to beginners and advanced students, age 18+.
Max. participants: 10

Location: Fiber department of Cranbrook Academy of Art in the New Studios Building.
Parking: Cranbrook Art Museum Parking Lot.

Length: 3 Days, 7 hours each day (August 7-9)
Food/Beverage: Lunch and snacks will be provided during the workshop. The Academy also has water bottle refill stations and vending machines near the Fiber department.

Cost: 450.00 USD*
Materials provided with the cost of the workshop: a variety of materials to create paper pulp, construction paper for accents, and cardboard for structural supports.

Studio Dress/Recommended Accessories: All participants should wear clothing and shoes they don’t mind getting stained or dirty. Comfortable closed-toe shoes, an apron, and a hair tie/bandana are recommended. You may also want to bring:

• A small towel or rag for wiping hands
• A notebook and pen for jotting ideas

*If the workshop does not meet the minimum participants, it will be cancelled, and any purchases will be fully refunded.

Learn how to create a multi-layered repeating pattern and translate it onto fabric through screen printing. Explore various techniques to design seamless patterns, incorporating drawing, collage, and digital methods.

Drawing inspiration from historical and contemporary layered prints, we will push the bounds of screen printing as a means of replication and variation to create two yards of unique fabric each.

No prior screen printing or Photoshop experience required.

By the end of this workshop, students will take home:

• Two-yard piece of fabric, screenprinted with the participant’s design

Register on Eventbrite

Instructor: Emily Dormier (CAA MFA Fiber 2026)
Instructor Language: English

Skill Level: This workshop is open to beginners and advanced students, age 18+.
Max. participants: 8

Location: Fiber department of Cranbrook Academy of Art in the New Studios Building.
Parking: Cranbrook Art Museum Parking Lot.

Length: 3 Days, 7 hours each day (August 14-16)
Food/Beverage: Lunch and snacks will be provided during the workshop. The Academy also has water bottle refill stations and vending machines near the Fiber department.

Cost: 450.00 USD*
Materials provided with the cost of the workshop: silkscreens, fabric inks, photo emulsion, and fabric. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop.

Studio Dress: All participants should wear clothing and shoes they don’t mind getting stained or dirty. Comfortable closed-toe shoes, an apron, and a hair tie/bandana are recommended.

*If the workshop does not meet the minimum participants, it will be cancelled, and any purchases will be fully refunded.