Find your artistic side through metal fabrication and processes in Lone Star College-CyFair’s Art Metals I class this summer.
“It’s rewarding to be able to encourage students and help them explore and discover the artistic value in themselves and ways of expressing it,” said instructor Chuck Schwarz, a studio artist whose work has been exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally, along with receiving many varied commissions.
Schwarz received his Master’s of Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University in the art metals program. American Craft and Interior Design magazines are among the list of publications showing his work. LSC-CyFair’s Bosque Gallery will feature Schwarz’s work in an exhibition titled “Wabi-sabi Objects” June 15 through July 8, with artist receptions at 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. June 16 and 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. June 17.
“In a fundamentals metal class, there’s a broad range of abilities and interests – some who’ve never had a tool in their hand - working with files, saws and processes that are thousands of years old to make objects,” said Schwarz.
Art Metals 1 is an introduction to metal fabrication through the study of basic materials and techniques including soldering, riveting, sawing and filing. Students will also learn the proper maintenance and operating procedures of machines and hand tools. Arts Metal 1 is also a prerequisite for Art Metals 2, which covers advanced techniques including lost wax casting.
“The joy of teaching an art class is that unlike in a math or history class where you do a quiz or paper and get the same answer from all the students, I get as many different solutions to the problem as I have students,” said Schwarz. “There’s no wrong answer and it’s wonderful to see the results. Whether it’s successes or failures, there’s physical evidence of what you’ve done and how you participated.”
Arts Metals 1, available as a credit or continuing education course, is offered this summer as well as again this fall. Art Metals 2 as well as a Sculpture 1 course is offered in the spring. Register now for the summer class, set June 7 through July 13 or the fall class, which starts Aug. 24.
For information, contact the instructor at Harry.C.Schwarz@lonestar.edu or art department chair at Suzanne.Shield-Polk@lonestar.edu