Upcoming classes

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• Unfinished Business

  • When
    Fri, February 06, 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    6

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  Join us for a one-day workshop that's all about taking your metal artwork across the finish line.

  In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to safely and confidently use angle grinders, die grinders, dremels, and other finishing tools to refine surfaces and remove casting or weld marks. We’ll also dive into needle scalers and sandblasters for texturing and cleanup, giving you a full toolkit for professional-quality finishes. A comprehensive patina demo will introduce you to color, oxidation, and sealing options so your work looks intentional and gallery-ready. This class is perfect for past casting students who have unfinished pieces waiting for attention, as well as artists who want to add hardware or make minor adjustments so their work functions smoothly. Bring your “almost done” projects and leave with completed, exhibition-ready metal sculpture.

  $90 ($75 tuition + $15 materials)
  Open to ages 18 and up.

  Instructor: Brighton McCormick

  
  

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• Cuttlebone Casting with Lead-Free Pewter

  • When
    Mon, March 02, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    6

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  Learn the ancient technique of cuttlebone casting in this sampler class. We'll start by covering the basics of direct carving your own pattern to create a cuttlebone mold. Next, we'll pour lead-free pewter into our patterns, and then you'll finish your creation as a small sculpture, pendant, keychain, pin, magnet, or more. The workshop will cover the basics of carving, techniques for pouring metal, and basic finishing of small-scale cast artworks. You can expect to make at least one finished pieces during the class. No prior experience is required in this fun class! 

  $70 ($55 tuition + $15 materials)

  Instructor: Jess Night

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• Creative Metal Casting: Mold-Making Fundamentals

  • Start
    Tue, March 03, 2026
  •  
  • End
    Tue, March 24, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    2

  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 molten metal, and a variety of finishing techniques.

  This project-driven class includes two endeavors to be poured in your choice of bronze or aluminium:

  • A one part, open face mold made through sculpting a clay pattern. 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.
  • 2-part sand molds using reductive carving to directly sculpt the void in which to pour metal. These are smaller scale work that get your brain thinking backwards!

  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.

  $225 ($180 tuition + $45 materials)  |  4 sessions 

  Open to ages 16 and up.

  Instructor: Cassi Rebman

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• Casting Project Shop: Make a Cast Iron Art Tile

  • When
    Sat, March 21, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    8

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  Be part of Minneapolis Molten Metal Cast Iron Invitational!

  In this workshop, you’ll create a sand mold of your own design to be cast in iron at the Minneapolis Molten Metal Cast Iron Invitational in April. 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 the afternoon of April 4, for a fun and fiery community event that will featuring the spectacle of an 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:

  • We'll do basic cleanup of your piece (cutting off sprues, sandblasting) and have it ready for you to pick up before the end of April.
  • Because of the sometimes unpredictable nature of the casting process, variations in your finished piece may occur.
  • If we have to cancel the 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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• MMM Iron Invitational: Sand Mold Studio & Iron Pour

  • Start
    Wed, April 01, 2026
  •  
  • End
    Sun, April 05, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    5 sessions
  • Location
    3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
  • Spaces left
    16

  Register

  Join us at CAFAC for the second annual Minneapolis Molten Metal Iron Invitational!

  This four-day immersive workshop will culminate in community iron pour on Saturday, April 4. Open to artists and students of all skill levels, this sand mold workshop offers hands-on experience in casting molten iron using traditional foundry techniques. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced caster, you'll learn new skills, connect with fellow makers, and create a custom iron casting.

  The Sand Mold Studio & Iron Pour experience includes:

  • Guidance by instructors through the process of mold making, including establishing parting lines and ramming multi-part molds using resin-bonded sand.

  • Presentations on metal casting techniques and hands-on demonstrations of the entire casting process.

  • 30 pounds of iron and 100 pounds of resin-bonded sand.* You’ll have the opportunity to create one to three molds, depending on experience and time constraints.

  • Working alongside an experienced casting crew to learn furnace operations and pouring molten metal.

  At the end of the workshop experience, you’ll have a complete one-of-a-kind iron casting of your own design. If you have casting experience, we recommend bringing your own completed pattern ready to be molded. However, if you’re a beginner or don’t have a pattern ready, you’ll be able to create simple patterns on the first day from materials like plasticine, found objects, or through reductive carving. For those new to casting, basic forms such as bowls, tiles, or belt buckles are available and can be customized.

  Open studio hours:

  • Wednesday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Orientation, pattern review, iron breaking, intro to gating and flasks, sand mixing, start ramming molds

  • Thursday, April 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Multi-part mold demos, work time, iron breaking

  • Friday, April 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Gating and venting, intro to gluing/banding/weighting molds, work time, iron breaking

  • Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Pour floor setup, pour team assignments, dry run, burn in, first tap at 3 p.m.!

  • Sunday, April 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    Break open molds, clean up, pack up 

  You’ll have access to the studio from Wednesday to Friday, allowing ample supported work time. For many participants, this is more than enough time to complete your molds, so you may also use this time flexibly to accommodate other commitments. Please plan to be onsite for the duration of the iron pour on Saturday and for at least 2 hours on Sunday for breaking out molds and cleanup.

  Find more details about facilities, schedule, what to bring, and more.

  Workshop fee: $395 ($295 tuition + $100 materials)
  *Additional iron and resin-bonded sand available at per pound-rate

  Instructors: Brighton McCormick & Pete Gierzynski

   

  This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

  
  

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