Pre-Conference Workshops
Martha Banyas: Creating and Building Images in Enamel FULL
Starting with the process of thinking about what you want to make and why, we will then work on making a potent image. We will explore visual ways in which to manifest these ideas through illustration, symbolism, reflection, or abstraction. Using these images, students will do some small drawings or watercolor/ gouache paintings as studies for enamels.
From these small color studies, we will work with various limoges (and rogue) techniques to work out these ideas in enamel. Most of the underglaze and overglaze enameling techniques as well as fine mesh sifting and stenciling will be covered.
 Martha Banyas received her BA at Miami University of Ohio in1966 and MA at Ohio University in 1968. She moved to Portland, Oregon in 1970, and has worked primarily in enamel since 1972. She was a full time faculty member at Mt .Hood Community College and has taught enamel workshops in the US, Canada & Japan. Since 1973, she has participated in numerous one-woman and group exhibitions worldwide. She has traveled extensively in Asia and Eastern Europe since 1981.
She owned Apa Ini Gallery, which specialized in fine and unusual handmade
objects from various countries.
Tea Gurgenidze: Exploring Cloisonné Iconography
Georgian cloisonné as well as all medieval Georgian culture was closely tied to the Byzantine world. The icons organically absorbed the official Byzantine Christian canon and embellished it with a uniquely Georgian artistic vision.
Sincere faces, expressive large-headed simple figures, completely ignorant of strict religious dogmas in many cases, together with deep spirituality and color intensity combined to create exceptional examples of cloisonné, original in both form and style. In this workshop we will build on the traditional forms of Georgian iconographic cloisonné to create thoroughly contemporary interpretations.
Intermediate and advanced level recommended.
Tea Gurgenidze, Georgian painter-enamelist, graduated from Tbilisi State Academy of Fine Arts, Faculty of Applied and Decorative Arts, Glass and Ceramics Art Painting in 1988. She began enameling in the early 1990’s when cloisonné was considered a “forgotten” craft. The goal for her experiments was to revive
and develop the oldest cloisonné techniques of medieval Georgia. The result of her work led to the founding of the enamel gallery “Ornament” and in 2001, she opened the first licensed School-Studio in Tbilisi (Georgia) to revive cloisonné enameling in Georgia.
Chris Hentz: An Outrageously Thorough Soldering Workshop Especially for Enamelists!! FULL
Through lectures and demonstrations, this workshop will help participants
improve their ability to observe and understand silver and gold soldering. All information is directed toward ensuring that soldering does not become difficult "work".
Topics covered include the application of soldering principles, options for fabrication and setting enamels, creative use of tools AND soldering jigs, a few tricks for making it all easier, and short cuts for accomplishing many tasks.
After taking this workshop, participants should be able to solve most soldering or construction problems previously thought to be “overwhelming, too complex or too tedious".
Open to all experience levels.
 Christopher A. Hentz received his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He has been the Professor of Jewelry and Metalsmithing at Louisiana State University for the past 31 years.
Christopher researches, from both historical and non-traditional viewpoints, concepts and techniques for complex construction of containers, innovative chain fabrication, inventive settings, hinges and mechanical movements. He has recently explored CAD/CAM.
As a self-employed artist, Christopher has shown in the ACC Craft Shows, The
Smithsonian Craft Show, The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, and in various galleries and museums in the US, Europe and Japan. Chris is the creator of “Chris’s Cables”.
 Lynne Hull: Sheet Metal Techniques for Enamelists
This workshop will focus on creating three dimensional metal objects for enameling. Sheet metal techniques involving box-n-pan brake, hydraulic presses, rotary tools and metal spinning will be demonstrated. Lap joints, tabs, nuts/bolts and rivets for joining multiple parts, as well as surface enrichment, will be covered.
Lynne Hull received her BFA degree in 1979 from University of Washington in Seattle. Metal spinning has occupied her artistic vision ever since receiving her MFA degree at the School for American Craftsmen at Rochester Institute of Technology in 1981. Lynne’s professional life is focused on her metalsmithing business, marketing her work through the shows and, since 1987, teaching at North Seattle Community College. Lynne’s vessels have been shown and collected all around the USA and Canada and are represented in the Renwick.
Barbara Minor: Experimental Surfaces - Expanding Possibilities FULL
Emphasis in this workshop will be on creating exciting surfaces through exploration of various enameling techniques. Methods for creating surfaces will include inlaying enamel shards, seed beads, silver foil “spit balls” and copper or silver screening; punched through counter enamel patterning; PMC slip bonded to etched copper; dry screening and stenciling; embossed foil; decal application and sgraffito with atomized metals.
Students will work on their choice of demonstrated techniques to create sample pieces to serve as future technical reference.
Students should have beginning knowledge and skills with basic metal and enameling materials, tools, methods and techniques.
Barbara Minor completed her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in jewelry and metalsmithing at University of Illinois and Indiana State University. She extensively explored enameling in conjunction with formed metal, creating enamel jewelry and narrative reliefs with the support of research grants, while teaching at the State University of New York at Geneseo. Since 1986, Barbara has concentrated on making enameled beads, jewelry and sculptural container or vessel designs which she exhibits at major juried craft shows and galleries. Barbara regularly conducts workshops, lectures and demonstrations for a variety of schools and organizations on enameling and related subjects.
Jean Tudor : Metal and Glass; Fire and Ash. Raku-fired Enamels
Applying an ancient Japanese firing technique to the enamel process, the class will achieve a variety of tactile and visual surface effects, discover some methods of controlling design, and bring some materials other than glass, copper and/or steel into the enamelwork. Using various combustible materials in a reduction firing process, we will bring metallic oxides to the surface of our work, giving it an exciting iridescence. It’s messy and smelly, and exciting.
Jean Tudor is a past president of the Enamelist Society. She studied art at Wayne State University (BFA in Metals; Phillip Fike) and Penland School of Crafts (Someroski and Harper). She is a juried member of the Northwest Designer/Craftsmen and is on the Board of Trustees for The Grünewald Guild, an art/faith center in Washington. She has taught here and abroad and currently teaches at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, Portland, OR and at The Grünewald Guild. Jean has exhibited in the USA, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, and Spain where her cloisonné/raku works received a Judges’ Mención Especial in 2007.
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