Urban Metal Studio is Closing
It is with heavy heart that we close our doors. We will miss the camaraderie in the studio and working with like minded artists while we all developed our skills and artwork.
Our business plan was developed in the last 6 months of 2019 before Covid hit. What looked good on paper was born into a time when the world changed. We had not anticipated it and had no idea that two weeks to flatten the curve would turn into long months of fear and lockdown. We stayed dedicated to the idea of a brick and mortar and the energy and ideas created when working side by side in person.
We opened in May of 2021 with much excitement and high hopes for the future. We’ve hosted specialty workshops and lectures with notable artists including David Huang, Saign Charlestein, Leslie Aine McKeown, Oleksi Koval, Jeanette Caines, Ellen Durkan, Bette Barnett, John Hays, Douglas Pryor, Hoss Rogers, Jessica Cote, Harlan Butt and Danielle Embry in addition to our usual classes on subjects across the metalsmithing landscape.
We started on a shoestring and were buoyed by friends with loans, donations of cash, tools, time and labor. It was a genuine community effort full of joy working with you all. We made the decision to close as our lease comes to an end and we still have not made a profit or payed everyone what we owe them. In that effort we will be selling furniture, tools and equipment as we close during the last two weeks of October.
You have been our life blood these 6 years. We thank you so much for your support in the Urban Metal Studio project.
Membership
$250/Month
Auto Renews Monthly
You get:
All member hours access
Use of tools and equipment*
3nd Friday is Members Night**
20% discount on all in-house classes taught by Julie, Polly or Keith
5% Discount on tools and product
Advance notice to register early for workshops
Member hours: M-F, 10 am-8 pm, Saturday 2-8pm..
Email: info@urbanmetalstudio.com for a tour of the studio.
Saign Charlestein: 5 Day Intensive Chasing and Repoussé Workshop
$1250
January 19-23, 2026
Chasing and repoussé is an ancient technique used to decorate sheet metal with the most lavish and intricate designs. In this 5 day hands on workshop, Saign will teach everything from different methods of transferring images, tool making, and pitch preparation, to proper ergonomics, chasing, repoussé, and creating relief with only chasing from the front.
David Huang: Vessel Chasing Workshop
$725
March 17-19, 2026
Using pre-made copper vessels this workshop will explore how to embellish the form with designs and textures created using the technique known as chasing, including an approach variation I’ve been calling “hammer chasing”. In place of traditional pitches we will be using a microcrystalline wax, one commonly used in bronze casting. During the course of the workshop we will also cover the basics of making ones own chasing tools, and soldering on a silver rim.
David Huang: Patinas on Copper Workshop
$725
March 20-22, 2026
In this workshop we will explore many different patinas that will work with copper to produce a range of colors and visual textures. There will be some buried patinas and boiling immersion patinas, but most will done using heat and applying chemical solutions with a brush. Students will get hands on experience, leaving with a range of test tiles they’ve created.
In addition we will talk about gold leafing and everybody will be able to try applying it to a test tile.
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That metal WILL do your bidding! Learn the basic methods of manipulating copper and other non-ferrous metals. We will be hammering, coaxing, bending, torching and more hammering. This is an ongoing class where beginners start by learning raising, sinking, planishing and progress through increasingly technical skills usually led by artistic whim. Demonstrations will rotate through the class and new skills will be added each month. Urban Metal provides the tools and the know how. You bring your ideas and a willing spirit. Purchase materials in class or bring your own.