Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center upcoming events

Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Working with Wire (Mon, May 18, 2026)

Mon, 18 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

One of the most common components of jewelry is wire, whether you are making chain, closures, or settings. This foundational course will introduce you to some of the many ways wire is used in jewelry-making and you'll start building an essential skill set.

We'll begin by learning about bench setup, safety in the jewelry studio, and commonly used tools and equipment. We'll discuss different types of soldering and then focus on pick soldering throughout the class. We'll also cover sawing, hammering textures, annealing metal, and polishing, with time to practice these skills. You'll work with different gauges of wire and can expect to complete a jewelry piece of your choice (necklace, bracelet, earring, ring) or possibly more depending on size and your proficiency. You'll work primarily with copper and a small amount of sterling silver.

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$410 ($360 tuition + $50 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura D. Juul

Advanced Silversmithing: Inspired by the Garden with Nicole Ringgold (Fri, May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We're thrilled to welcome Nicole Ringgold to the CAFAC jewelry studio for a 5-day intensive workshop!

This workshop is for intermediate to advanced silversmiths. We will convene for eight hours each day which includes a one-hour break for lunch.

Throughout the workshop, you'll focus on torch control, sawing, forming, fusing, soldering, and so much more to fabricate a variety of garden-inspired pieces. Demonstrations will include the creation of leaves, a beet or radish, a flower, an insect, and other projects inspired by our creativity throughout the week. You'll create several pieces over the course of the workshop, and emerge with an understanding of what is involved in working full-time as a silversmith.

$900 plus $240 materials* | 5-day intensive | Open to ages 18 and up
Note: this workshop is not eligible for scholarship awards.

*You may choose to provide your own materials. When you register, you'll choose whether or not you would like us to provide your materials. Sorry, materials are all-or-nothing (we provide all, or you provide all).

Materials List

1 3x3" sheet of 22 gauge sterling silver
1 3x3" sheet of 24 gauge sterling silver
1 5 ft 16 gauge sterling silver wire
1 5 ft wire of 18 gauge sterling silver
1 3 ft wire of 20 gauge sterling silver
Silver solder

You are welcome to bring additional materials!

All tools, equipment, and general shop consumables are provided.

Instructor: Nicole Ringgold's work is inspired by everything she encounters in her natural surroundings -- a plant, an insect, a bird's nest, natural river rocks, a sound, a glimpse, a smell. She lives in Winthrop, Washington, situated in the North Cascade mountains. Nicole is an outdoor enthusiast, gardener, wife and mother, farmer, and world wanderer. Throughout the year she teaches master silversmithing workshops in her studio and around the globe.

Nicole says, "My wearable art is hand fabricated. Many people assume that it is cast, dipped or electroformed. I start with silver sheets and wire, saw, solder, file, texture, form, oxidize and polish every piece. My intention is not to replicate the inspiration, but to recreate it with precious metal with as much detail as possible. My goal with every piece is to make the metal appear alive."

This activity made possible by:

Advanced Silversmithing: Inspired by the Garden with Nicole Ringgold (Sat, May 23, 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We're thrilled to welcome Nicole Ringgold to the CAFAC jewelry studio for a 5-day intensive workshop!

This workshop is for intermediate to advanced silversmiths. We will convene for eight hours each day which includes a one-hour break for lunch.

$900 plus $240 materials* | 5-day intensive | Open to ages 18 and up
Note: this workshop is not eligible for scholarship awards.

Materials List

1 3x3" sheet of 22 gauge sterling silver
1 3x3" sheet of 24 gauge sterling silver
1 5 ft 16 gauge sterling silver wire
1 5 ft wire of 18 gauge sterling silver
1 3 ft wire of 20 gauge sterling silver
Silver solder

You are welcome to bring additional materials!

All tools, equipment, and general shop consumables are provided.

This activity made possible by:

Advanced Silversmithing: Inspired by the Garden with Nicole Ringgold (Sun, May 24, 2026)

Sun, 24 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We're thrilled to welcome Nicole Ringgold to the CAFAC jewelry studio for a 5-day intensive workshop!

This workshop is for intermediate to advanced silversmiths. We will convene for eight hours each day which includes a one-hour break for lunch.

$900 plus $240 materials* | 5-day intensive | Open to ages 18 and up
Note: this workshop is not eligible for scholarship awards.

Materials List

1 3x3" sheet of 22 gauge sterling silver
1 3x3" sheet of 24 gauge sterling silver
1 5 ft 16 gauge sterling silver wire
1 5 ft wire of 18 gauge sterling silver
1 3 ft wire of 20 gauge sterling silver
Silver solder

You are welcome to bring additional materials!

All tools, equipment, and general shop consumables are provided.

This activity made possible by:

Advanced Silversmithing: Inspired by the Garden with Nicole Ringgold (Mon, May 25, 2026)

Mon, 25 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We're thrilled to welcome Nicole Ringgold to the CAFAC jewelry studio for a 5-day intensive workshop!

This workshop is for intermediate to advanced silversmiths. We will convene for eight hours each day which includes a one-hour break for lunch.

$900 plus $240 materials* | 5-day intensive | Open to ages 18 and up
Note: this workshop is not eligible for scholarship awards.

Materials List

1 3x3" sheet of 22 gauge sterling silver
1 3x3" sheet of 24 gauge sterling silver
1 5 ft 16 gauge sterling silver wire
1 5 ft wire of 18 gauge sterling silver
1 3 ft wire of 20 gauge sterling silver
Silver solder

You are welcome to bring additional materials!

All tools, equipment, and general shop consumables are provided.

This activity made possible by:

Advanced Silversmithing: Inspired by the Garden with Nicole Ringgold (Tue, May 26, 2026)

Tue, 26 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

We're thrilled to welcome Nicole Ringgold to the CAFAC jewelry studio for a 5-day intensive workshop!

This workshop is for intermediate to advanced silversmiths. We will convene for eight hours each day which includes a one-hour break for lunch.

$900 plus $240 materials* | 5-day intensive | Open to ages 18 and up
Note: this workshop is not eligible for scholarship awards.

Materials List

1 3x3" sheet of 22 gauge sterling silver
1 3x3" sheet of 24 gauge sterling silver
1 5 ft 16 gauge sterling silver wire
1 5 ft wire of 18 gauge sterling silver
1 3 ft wire of 20 gauge sterling silver
Silver solder

You are welcome to bring additional materials!

All tools, equipment, and general shop consumables are provided.

This activity made possible by:

Old to New: Reusing & Recycling Metals for Jewelry-Making (Thu, May 28, 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Have you been holding onto your grandmother’s silver spoon or jewelry? Or have clean scrap sterling silver? Learn to recycle precious metals and add environmentally-friendly techniques to your jewelry-making! This class covers the fundamentals of hallmarking to identify sterling from plated base metals, plus highlights various karat golds. Explore melting metal and pouring it into ingots that can be hammered or milled to make create useful jewelry making material like wire and sheet. Once that step is complete you'll work at the jeweler's bench using a variety of hand tools to texture and shape metal, and a torch to solder to make a band ring. Basic jewelry finishing will also be covered.

All skill levels are welcome! You'll need to supply or source your own sterling silver scrap or objects to melt for this class.

$230 ($210 tuition + $20 materials) | 4 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Linda Seebauer Hansen

Jewelry Fundamentals: Red Sand Casting (Fri, May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

In this class, you’ll learn the fundamentals of small scale sand casting using a special blend of delft clay and red sand. You will be guided to prepare and pack a two-part mold, working to capture fine detail, and safely pour molten metal to create your own unique design.

Feel free to bring your own small charm or object to cast or you can pick from our curated selection of found objects. you’ll practice embedding, carving, and venting techniques to produce clean, detailed castings. You'll work with both bronze and sterling silver to create two or three finished pieces, depending on the size and complexity of your designs. Once cooled and removed from the mold, you’ll learn basic finishing and polishing techniques to complete your cast project.

No experience is necessary—all tools, materials and safety equipment are provided. Whether you're exploring metalworking for the first time or beginning your journey into jewelry or sculpture, this class offers a fun and approachable introduction to sand casting.

$225 ($180 tuition + $45 materials) | 4 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura Juul

Jewelry Project Shop: Stacker Rings (Sat, May 30, 2026)

Sat, 30 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Want to make some simple rings, ideal for wearing in multiples? Pick a finger or toe you'd like to adorn and learn how to make rings out of copper and sterling silver in an afternoon. Stacker rings are an easy, fun project and a great way to get a taste of silversmithing. We'll start by learning about the basic tools you’ll use, and then dive into fundamental silversmithing techniques like hammering, filing, sawing, and soldering as you work on your project.

No prior experience is required!

$110 ($90 tuition + $20 materials)
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura D. Juul

Small Things Casting with Lost Wax (Mon, June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Do you have an idea for a small-size sculpture or jewelry piece that you'd like to make in cast silver or bronze? This comprehensive class will immerse you in the process of lost wax casting in miniature form. You'll learn to carve wax, make molds, and cast small art objects or jewelry, using the vacuum assist casting method. The class will cover safety protocols, the tools used for wax carving, techniques for pouring metal, and basic finishing of cast artworks. Our focus will be on wax carving to create patterns for casting, but not silicone/rubber molding or inclusion of stones. Questions about whether your project is suitable for this class? Get in touch with the instructor. Class fee includes 1.5 troy ounces of silver and up to a half-pound of bronze.

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$270 ($225 tuition + $45 materials) | 5 weeks
Open to ages 16 and up (parent/guardian should be on call for students under 18.

Instructor: Jess Night

Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Working with Wire (Mon, June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$410 ($360 tuition + $50 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura D. Juul

Soft Soldering: Low-Heat Techniques for Jewelry (Wed, June 03, 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Delve into the captivating art of soft soldering in this beginner level jewelry class. You'll choose from an array of projects, creating personalized pieces such as rings, pendants, or earrings. You'll practice a variety of low heat techniques with a soldering iron and be encouraged to explore your creativity with soldering.

The workshop will provide guidance through the entire process, from working with base metals to provide structure to polishing your work and adding any finishing touches. Along the way, we'll explore ways to create visual interest with beads and other findings, use soldering techniques to sculpt pieces, and apply patina to add color and depth to the metals. You'll leave with one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that reflect your individual style and artistic expression.

No experience required! Whether you have a passion for jewelry, a curiosity about soldering, or simply a desire to acquire a new skill, join us on an artistic journey and discover the joy of crafting your own unique soldered jewelry pieces.

$210 ($180 tuition + $30 materials) | 4 sessions
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Annemarie Hines

Old to New: Reusing & Recycling Metals for Jewelry-Making (Thu, June 04, 2026)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

All skill levels are welcome! You'll need to supply or source your own sterling silver scrap or objects to melt for this class.

$230 ($210 tuition + $20 materials) | 4 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Linda Seebauer Hansen

Jewelry Fundamentals: Red Sand Casting (Fri, June 05, 2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

$225 ($180 tuition + $45 materials) | 4 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura Juul

Small Things Casting with Lost Wax (Mon, June 08, 2026)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$270 ($225 tuition + $45 materials) | 5 weeks
Open to ages 16 and up (parent/guardian should be on call for students under 18.

Instructor: Jess Night

Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Working with Wire (Mon, June 08, 2026)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$410 ($360 tuition + $50 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura D. Juul

Soft Soldering: Low-Heat Techniques for Jewelry (Wed, June 10, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

$210 ($180 tuition + $30 materials) | 4 sessions
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Annemarie Hines

Old to New: Reusing & Recycling Metals for Jewelry-Making (Thu, June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

All skill levels are welcome! You'll need to supply or source your own sterling silver scrap or objects to melt for this class.

$230 ($210 tuition + $20 materials) | 4 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Linda Seebauer Hansen

Small Things Casting with Lost Wax (Mon, June 15, 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$270 ($225 tuition + $45 materials) | 5 weeks
Open to ages 16 and up (parent/guardian should be on call for students under 18.

Instructor: Jess Night

Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Working with Wire (Mon, June 15, 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$410 ($360 tuition + $50 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura D. Juul

Soft Soldering: Low-Heat Techniques for Jewelry (Wed, June 17, 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

$210 ($180 tuition + $30 materials) | 4 sessions
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Annemarie Hines

Old to New: Reusing & Recycling Metals for Jewelry-Making (Thu, June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

All skill levels are welcome! You'll need to supply or source your own sterling silver scrap or objects to melt for this class.

$230 ($210 tuition + $20 materials) | 4 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up.

Instructor: Linda Seebauer Hansen

Silversmithing Skill Session: Techniques for Finishes & Textures (Sat, June 20, 2026)

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

This workshop is an ideal next step to our Stacker Rings class, and is designed for jewelers with some experience. Working in silver, you'll start by soldering, annealing, and sizing a ring band. Then we'll move on to explore a variety of finishing and texturing techniques, with a focus on safe and proper use of jewelers' tools. Based on your interest and experience, we may work with the torch, saw-blades, hammers, and the flex shaft. You'll leave having turned a simple, plain band into one of your own unique and personalized creation.

$110 ($90 tuition + $20 materials)
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Sam Andre

Small Things Casting with Lost Wax (Mon, June 22, 2026)

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$270 ($225 tuition + $45 materials) | 5 weeks
Open to ages 16 and up (parent/guardian should be on call for students under 18.

Instructor: Jess Night

Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Working with Wire (Mon, June 22, 2026)

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$410 ($360 tuition + $50 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura D. Juul

Soft Soldering: Low-Heat Techniques for Jewelry (Wed, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

$210 ($180 tuition + $30 materials) | 4 sessions
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Annemarie Hines

Small Things Casting with Lost Wax (Mon, June 29, 2026)

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$270 ($225 tuition + $45 materials) | 5 weeks
Open to ages 16 and up (parent/guardian should be on call for students under 18.

Instructor: Jess Night

Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Working with Wire (Mon, June 29, 2026)

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

$410 ($360 tuition + $50 materials) | 8 weeks
Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

Instructor: Laura D. Juul