All Member Annual Meeting Weekend Activities At College for Creative Studies
October 26 & 27, 2024
College for Creative Studies, 201 E Kirby in the Kresge Ford Building.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - A day of learning, experimentation and play!

Saturday’s lineup includes:

The start of the annual Tool /Supply/Equipment Swap. This year the swap will be a two day event, and will be a “buy it now” format. No bidding and waiting to see if you got it. It’s great way to build up your own studio arsenal if you’re just starting out, or to clear out some unused or excess tools, supplies and equipment if you have them. Find the Tool Swap form and instructions here if you want to find new homes for tools you no longer need.

The beginning of the silent auction for the single spindle buffer and dust collector and bench shear that was donated by Cheryl Brooks to benefit the MSG Skip Hunter Senior Thesis Grant Program. Both pieces of equipment will be on display with a reserve price on them, and the auction will run from opening on Saturday through the close on Sunday.

Demonstrations and some hands on experience with:
- anodizing titanium
- pulse arc welder and laser welders
- powder coating
- Electroforming - demonstration only
An open studio session where you can get guidance on your “challenging” project, and of course,
Collaboration, networking, and fun!

New for this year, on Saturday afternoon we will have a “Saw, File and Solder Relay”. Members will break into 3 person teams and will be given a piece of metal. One person on the team will saw the metal into a ring band, the second person will file it and the third person will solder it and form it into a ring band as they race against the other teams. It should be great fun so recruit your teams!

Of course coffee and nibbles will be there to start the day and lunch and snack will be provided.

Sunday 12 p.m. 4:45 p.m. – More tools, a business meeting, and a lecture!

Sunday’s schedule:

12:00 p.m. Tool Swap Continues
12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. All Membership Business Meeting - (Annual member Meeting Minutes 2023 can be found here)
1:45 p.m. Lecture by Matthew Gross “Taxco Mexico: The Silver Jewelry Capital’s Rich Legacy”.
4.00 p.m. Shopping, Tool Swap Wrap Up & Socializing
4:45 p.m. Close

Hope to see you there!

The Michigan Silversmiths Guild was founded in 1948. Guild members include craftpersons proficient in the fields of metalsmithing and jewelry, and serves to broaden the knowledge of its members' craft and to facilitate communication with other metalsmiths.

The Guild sponsors lectures and workshops by artists and teachers established in their fields. These activities have included lectures and workshops covering box construction, iron working, shell construction, plastics, repousse, titanium, stone setting, casting, etc. The Guild also sponsors juried exhibitions of work produced by members. Workshops are usually held on Saturdays at the Center for Creative Studies, Detroit; Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills; Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti; Wayne State University, Detroit; or the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Lectures and/or slide presentations are held at any one of the above locations.

Our History

Check out our 2024 schedule!

WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS

Workshops and Events

MEMBERSHIP

There are many benefits to MSG membership, both tangible and intangible. Foremost, you will have the opportunity to participate in a vibrant community of metalsmiths in Michigan, the Midwest and world wide. Membership with MSG helps to support our activities which include workshops, lectures, exhibitions, this website and more. The Michigan Silversmiths Guild is a non-profit organization that serves the arts community. Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in the arts.

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