Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art - Metals and Jewelry

Western Michigan University

The metals/jewelry program is an exploration of the materials and technical processes necessary to produce jewelry and other forms of adornment, functional objects, or larger sculptural works in metal. The overall emphasis is placed on the formation of ideas and concepts. In specialized studios with state-of-the-art ventilation systems, students focus on practical and professional issues that concern practicing artists.The metals/jewelry program offers a thorough exploration of technical processes that can apply to jewelry or sculptural works. While the overall program emphasis is placed on ideation, the courses are also structured to encourage students to pursue materials and technical processes inherent in working with non-ferrous metals. The beginning metals/jewelry courses have a significant amount of demonstrations slide lectures and discussions on readings that address specific technical practice, and theoretical concerns to making. As the student moves through the program, they develop individual coherent bodies of work and possess a solid technical skillset.