AMCAW Virtual Guild
The AMCAW Virtual Guild is a benefit available only to AMCAW members. Once per quarter, join a live online meeting where you can learn new skills from top-notch members of the metal clay community.
Our goal is to move beyond teaching techniques to create a space where artists of all levels can contribute their knowledge and enthusiasm, learning from each other and supporting and interacting for the benefit of the entire community. All Virtual Guild Meetings are recorded to make it easy for our members to listen at a later time when the live meeting is not convenient.
Our next meeting is January 18, 2025
Registration will open in December.
Meeting Schedule 2025
Jan 18, 2025
Presenter – Patrik Kusek
Topic – Inspiration behind his winning Superbly Sintered piece
Mar 15, 2025
Presenter – Patrice Baker
Topic – Rivets
Making Metal Clay Hinges with Karen Trexler
This presentation will cover creating metal clay hinges that do not require soldering, riveting, or any post firing fabrication to add a hinge pin.
Basic guidelines for creating successful hinges will be covered, along with additional tips and tricks on how to create even hinge knuckles, how to cut a seat for hinges, and how to cleanly apply hinge knuckles to an object or piece of jewelry.
How to fire pieces that have hinges will also be covered.
About Karen Trexler
Karen Trexler was lucky to discover her love for jewelry making early in life in a high school jewelry making class where she was introduced to the basics of metalsmithing. She pursued her passion for making and attended Ball State University, where she received a BFA before continuing on to get her Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in metalsmithing and enameling from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
After graduating with her MFA, Karen shifted her making emphasis from traditional metalsmithing to working with precious metal clay, falling in love with the accessibility and diverse possibilities of projects possible resulting from the flexibility of the material. Karen was hired as Cool Tools’ resident artist where she’s had the opportunity to develop projects and educate others online through the youtube videos Cool Tools produces.
Karen also has experience teaching in person and has led workshops at MCAS in 2023, and the SINTER Conference, where she also presented, in 2022. Karen has been honored to serve as a Juror of AMCAW’s Opposites and Contrasts artist challenge in 2023, and serve as an expert for consultation for AMCAW’s challenge winners since 2019. Karen is passionate about sharing creativity and empowering others as makers.
Virtual Guild Video Library
To see an overview of all previous presentations visit our video library. This is a public page, where you can browse. You will need to be logged in to view any video.
Brandy Boyd – Combining metal clay with traditional metalsmithing practices
Virtual Guild meeting July 20, 2024
Sian Hamilton & Stephanie Chavez – Teaching & Learning Online
Virtual Guild meeting March 16, 2024
Cindy Pope – What can you do with a Silhouette die cutting machine?
Virtual Guild meeting January 20, 2024
Meropi Toumbas – Stronger Silver Metal Clay
Virtual Guild meeting Nov 18, 2023
How It Works?
Each Virtual Guild meeting includes two sections:
- Presentation by a top-notch metal clay instructor
- Q & A session for viewers to ask questions of the instructor
The meetings are held in a webinar format. The presenting instructor is live online and will use on-screen photos and videos to teach concepts and techniques that are of interest to metal clay artists.
We know you will have great questions! That’s why time is set aside in each meeting for Q & A with the instructor. Participants use the built-in Q&A and chat boxes to ask questions and engage in discussions.
Join us live for the Virtual Guild meeting or watch the recording afterwards.
Your choice!
Technical Details
- Click the Register Now button to sign up for the next Virtual Guild meeting. If the Register Now button is not showing then registration is not currently open.
- You are registering for one meeting only and will need to register again if you wish to attend another meeting in the future.
- You will receive an email confirming your registration, which will include instructions and a link to join the meeting. You will also receive reminder emails prior to the meeting.
- A recording of the meeting will be available on this page to AMCAW members.
- The Virtual Guild meeting will take place on the Zoom webinar platform. For more information visit the Zoom attendee help page.
VIRTUAL GUILD FAQs
About Guilds
Since the middle ages people with common interests have been coming together to form guilds. The craft and merchant guilds of that time were an important part of the fabric of society, maintaining standards and protecting the interests of the members. Though the merchant guilds have faded away there are still guilds of artisans and craftspeople. Today these groups serve to help us share knowledge and create companionship with others who are passionate about the same thing.
Apply To Present At A Future Meeting
If you are a member of the metal clay community with something interesting to share, then this high-profile opportunity might be perfect for you!