Upcoming classes

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• Casting Project Shop: Make a Cast Iron Art Tile

  • When
    Sat, March 15, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    0

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  Be part of CAFAC’s second iron pour!

  In this workshop, you’ll create a sand mold of your own design to be cast in iron at our Open (Hot)House on March 26. In this two-hour session, we’ll discuss the basics of the iron casting process and guide you through the process of reductive carving to create the mold for your tile. The workshop will ignite your interest in one of the myriad methods of metal casting and the magic of molten metal! No prior experience required.

  Then, you’re invited to join us on March 26, 6:30 to 9 p.m., for a fun and fiery community event that will feature our inaugural iron pour. You’ll be able to watch our artist team as they pour 2200° molten iron to cast the mold you carved in the workshop.

  A few notes:

  • If your tile requires any finishing after it’s poured, we’ll take care of that and have it ready for you to pick up by April 11. If you’re satisfied with it as is, you can take it with you after the pour.
  • Because of the sometimes unpredictable nature of the casting process, variations in your finished piece may occur.
  • If we have to cancel the scheduled pour, we’ll pour your tile in aluminum at a later date.

  Open to ages 16 and up, or younger people if accompanied by a participating adult

  Fee: $60 for one mold, which you can create by yourself or as a pair/group

  Instructor: Woody Stauffer

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• Creative Metal Casting: Mold-Making Fundamentals

  • Start
    Mon, April 07, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Mon, May 12, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    6 sessions
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    4

  Register

  Dive into the captivating world of molten metal and unlock the secrets of cast metal sculpture in this immersive course! Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a curious beginner, join us on a journey through the essentials of mold-making, pouring bronze and aluminum, and a variety of finishing techniques.

  This project-driven class includes two endeavors:

  • Aluminum Sculpture: Utilize clay techniques to create a one-of-a-kind mold for open-face castings. These sculptures are perfect for mounting and can be finished with a variety of colored inks. Learn the basics of crafting custom hardware to elegantly display your work.
  • Small Scale Bronze: Take your skills to the next level in creating a 2-part sand mold using reductive carving. As you finish your piece you can add hardware to make it into a necklace, keychain, or other functional object.

  You'll emerge from this class with a newfound passion for casting, valuable skills and knowledge of multiple casting processes, along with two totally unique artworks.

  $285 ($235 tuition + $50 materials)  |  6 sessions
  Open to ages 16 and up.

  Instructor: Brighton McCormick

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• Brick Tatara Steel-Making Workshop

  • Start
    Sat, April 26, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Sun, April 27, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    0

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  In this weekend workshop, join Wayne Potratz and take a hands-on deep dive into smelting: the process of reducing Minnesota magnetite iron ore into high carbon steel. We'll use a brick version of the Japanese Tatara to make high carbon steel blooms that can be consolidated and hammered into billets suitable for blade making or tool making. It's a unique opportunity for any knife-makers, blacksmiths, sculptors, metallurgists, and students of the history of technology.

  Features of this two-day immersive experience: presentations about the process and comparisons to other iron smelting traditions, building the furnace, preparation of materials, firing the tatara, hot cutting and consolidation of the bloom. You should come away with a piece of high carbon steel in an amount suitable for a small blade or other tool.

  Fee: $260  ($210 tuition + $50 materials)

  Instructor: Wayne Potratz 
  

  
  

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• Small Things Casting with Lost Wax

  • Start
    Thu, May 01, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Thu, June 19, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    3

  Register

  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 at jess.night@cafac.org. 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. 

  $380 ($310 tuition + $70 materials)  |  8 weeks
  Open to ages 16 and up (parent/guardian should be on call for students under 18. 

  Instructor: Jess Night 

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• Metal Casting Sampler: Fun & Functional Bronzes

  • When
    Fri, June 06, 2025
  •  
    2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    6

  Register

  In this project-based workshop, you'll have the opportunity to experience the entire process of casting, from mold-making to pouring molten metal! You'll choose a small project to cast in bronze: a pendant, keychain, or small sculpture. All pieces will incorporate an element to hang or surface mount, so they can be useful as well as sculptural.

  You'll start by learning to make a direct carve sand mold and then help with the bronze pour so you can see metal casting in action. We'll also apply a finish to your piece and add hardware to make it into a necklace, keychain, or mount it with a nut and bolt. This workshop is for beginners of all skill levels and will ignite your interest in exploring the myriad methods of metal casting. 

  $90 ($70 tuition + $20 materials)
  Open to ages 16 and up.

  Instructor: Brighton McCormick

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