About

This four-day workshop will cover many of the various ways of working round wire, from twisting, wrapping, looping, braiding and knitting to create textured line, to soumak, weaving and twining to get form. It is designed for the beginner to get an understanding of the many possibilities with wire.
For those who have already begun to work in wire, we will also explore finishing off the ends and edges by soldering as well as looking at surface patterning or complex form creation.
Most processes will be introduced in the first two days with participants making quick samples of those that most interest them. The other two days will allow for time to work on a small project or intensive one-on-one with those who have particular questions. Previous metals experience is desirable, but not absolutely necessary. Those from a fibers background may find working with metal using these fibers techniques to be an interesting variation or addition to their work.

ALL LEVELS WELCOME

Copper and other materials are included in the class fee. Participants may bring their silver if they wish. The heavier gauges should be 18 and 20...or even 14 gauge and be STERLING silver. The finer gauges - the 26 or 28 should be annealed FINE silver. All wire should be round.

While the BARN studio has these tools, feel free to bring your own if you have (but no need to buy):

• Wire cutters, Chain nosed pliers, Round and flat forming pliers, Half round and flat forming pliers
  
• Other favorite pliers they have
  
• Hand drill - electric will work if it can be run slowly and in both directions (or they can borrow mine)
  
• Small clip on bench vise if they have, Awl, something sharp, pointed and strong - I use the ends of a pair of dividers
  
• Ruler, Black Sharpie marker, colored magnet wire (a lacquer coated copper)
  
• Crochet hook - about #4 Boye brand - polished steel is better than anodized aluminum
  
• Optivisors, reader glasses or VERY good eyesight
  
• Medium long fingernails
  
• Pencil and notebook, Tiny stainless steel tweezers
  
• Anything interesting they have made of wire.
  

Please mark your tools with a dot of nail polish or some other way to identify them. The BARN studio tools are marked with a dot of red nail polish.

Instructor: Mary Lee Hu first became fascinated with metalwork during high school courses. She went on to attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, for two years and then went to Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to complete her undergraduate degree. It was during this time that Hu started to work with fiber inspired techniques after taking a fiber arts course. This led to the development of her signature style of wire wrapped jewelry. Since the late 1960s Hu has developed new techniques in coiling, wrapping, weaving, knitting, and twining wire. Her work consists mostly woven wire earrings, rings, bracelets, brooches, and neckpieces that emulate natural forms, movements and symmetry.
After completing her MFA, Hu traveled to various places and took up different teaching positions until she joined the metal arts program in the University of Washington School of Art in 1980. She retired from the University as professor emeritus in 2006.
Hu is a member and past-president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. In 1996 Hu was inducted into the American Craft Council College of Fellows. Hu has received three National Endowment of the Arts Craftsman Fellowships. Her work is in major collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Renwick Gallery, the American Crafts Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Hu is the winner of the 2008 Irving and Yvonne Twining Humber Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.