I’ve had lots of requests for information on mountmaking workshops and I’m finally getting everything together to make them happen. My apologies to all for taking so long! I took on a couple of museum projects during the slack time and it’s been hard to change gears and find conceptual space to get re-focused on teaching. Of course, one of the other issues has been that I’m having to rebuild my website skills as there have been lots of changes to navigate in the intervening year. I’d rather handle rare and fragile objects any day than deal with the website!

With all that said, there are going to be workshops! I’ve pulled together dates in July, August, and September. See the Events Page for dates, details, and registration. All three workshop dates are basically the same format as I am not able to produce new curricula right now, so sign up for the dates that best suit your schedule. Every participant brings their own experience, abilities, and collections focus to the class, and I work to tailor the instruction to give each person the training needed. There is also a lot of interaction and learning between all members of the class so I find there is a lot of synergy that happens between class members.

I’m really looking forward to teaching again. I was really starting to hit my stride with the workshops just as COVID shut everything down, and it feels right to finally be getting back to it. In light of all that the pandemic showed us, the class size has been cut by half to just three participants per class. I feel this gives a high level of safety to everyone as well as makes me able to give more individual attention to each person and better tool and equipment access for all. Sadly, fewer students means that I’m needing to push the workshop cost up just a little but I think it should still be within reach for most. If it’s going to keep you from attending, give me a call and let’s see what we can work out.

Burke Museum Whale Vertebrae

While I’ve got you here, you should know that the International Mountmakers Forum (our amazing professional group) held an on-line Mount Painting and Finishing Workshop just a few weeks back. You can see the video presentations on the IMF YouTube Channel along with Tim Skornia’s Brazing workshop and lots more from the conferences that have been held over the years. I present my methods for a spritz painting technique that we used extensively at the Museums of New Mexico in Santa Fe, and the use of chemical patinas for quick and stable coloring of brass and steel mounts.

One last thing, the International Mountmakers Forum 2022 is scheduled for November 8th-10th at the Getty Center in LA. I’m not sure if there will be a virtual component to the conference this year, so I will encourage you to attend if at all possible. It really is a great gathering of this very interesting profession of mountmaking. The call for papers is out right now and more information can be found at the IMF Website. See you there!