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With a focus on practical business skills and strategies for creatives, a Creative’s Guide to the Entrepreneurial Mindset will step out of the box of a traditional small business model and open a world to creative entrepreneurial skills. This hands-on boot camp will take an in-depth look at prospective and current business practices, envisioning a healthier balance between business and artistic output.

The class provides access to business-building tools, identifies opportunities, strengthens networks, and refines marketing strategy while finding ways to increase income. Cohort members will troubleshoot issues specific to creative business development. At the end of the weekend, participants will be able to fill out a 2-page business plan, have a working elevator pitch, know their current and target markets, and much more!

Topics Covered:

• Evaluating Your Business
• Creating and Crafting your Elevator Pitch
• What Sets You Apart From Other Creatives
• The Power of Good Networking
• Marketing Strategy
• How to Create Long-Term Relationships and Partnerships
• How to Price Your Work/Services
• How to Diversify Your Revenue Streams

Strategies/Lessons Learned

• Public Speaking
• Product/Service Assessment
• How to Sell/Market Your Work/Service
• Embracing Innovation & Change
• Opportunity Alertness
• Cash Flow Management
• Leveraging Resources

Schedule:
Friday, March 10th: 6 - 8 pm - Meet & Greet + Introduction of class, content, and each other's businesses
Saturday, March 11th, and Sunday, March 12th: 10 am - 5 pm - Core content + 60 min break with lunch provided

Location:
The College for Creative Studies
201 E Kirby St, Detroit, MI 48202

Cost:
$250 per student
$430 per member
$500 per non-member
Lunch is provided Saturday and Sunday.
Brain food and light refreshments will be available throughout the weekend.
After you register, you will be emailed a link to pay for the class.
Only 15 spots available!

Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Instructor Bio:

Alaina Clarke has her BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry and her MPA in Public Administration: Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Grand Valley State University. With a focus on entrepreneurship in the arts, Alaina is spending her time as an Organizational and Sustainability Strategist focused on Business Development for arts-based businesses and nonprofits. Along with GEM Creative, which empowers creatives to be entrepreneurs, she also runs her own jewelry business, A. Clarke Metalsmith. An advocate for both doing and teaching, Alaina is passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all creatives through education and dialogue.

**It is highly recommended that you have been working and selling your art for at least 6 months to retain the full benefits of this workshop. We will look in depth at your current creative practices to support your business in its next steps.

**This is an in-person workshop at the College for Creative Studies. You should be able to attend the whole weekend and be in person. There will not be a virtual option.

Click HERE to register for this bootcamp.

Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago has some exciting news. After a pandemic hiatus, we’re now offering our full-scale Artist-in-Residence Program once again! We are currently seeking artists for year-long residencies in Metalsmithing & Jewelry beginning September 1, 2022. 

Michigan Silversmiths Guild Annual All Member Meeting will be held at “City Hall Artspace Lofts” in Dearborn, MI on Sunday October 24th.

The meeting will be in the City Hall Artspace Loft Community Center from Noon to 5:00 PM with lunch being provided.

As always, the meeting will include board elections, everyone’s favorite tool swap, vendors, MSG SWAG, networking, and fellowship. 

This year’s lecturer will be MSG member Tom Madden - 

Mr. Madden is Professor, Crafts Department Chairman, and Section Head for Metalsmithing and Jewelry at the College for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan (1992-2014).

In October 2007 Mr. Madden was awarded the distinction of “Master Metalsmith 2007” by the National Ornamental Metals Museum, Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. Madden’s work can be viewed in many collections public and private throughout the US and Internationally.

In 2014 Mr. Madden’s work has been featured in METAL SMITHING TODAY: THE VESSEL, Aldon B. Dow Museum of Science and Art, Midland, Michigan, Beijing International Exhibition of Jewelry and Metals, Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University

Some of the planned events this year:

• Scheduling museum and studio tours
• Lectures
• Exhibitions
• Workshops
• Art Fairs
• Etc.

ADDRESSES: for GPS

City Hall Artspace Loft Community Center
13762 John Nagy Drive
Dearborn, MI

Parking
13757 John Nagy Drive
Dearborn, MI

Membership is going digital – we will be accepting credit cards for paying for your membership. We will no longer be accepting checks. Members watch for an email coming soon.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please click here for details and the application form to apply to participate in the MSG booth at the Art of Fire Art Fair in Royal Oak, June 12-13, 2021.

Please note, you need to complete a separate application for each of the fares in which you are interested in participating. 

Please click here for details and for the application form to apply to participate in the MSG booth at the Palmer Park Art Fair in Detroit, June 6-7, 2020. 

Please note, you need to complete a separate application for each of the fares in which you are interested in participating. 

Adjunct Lecturer – Metals and Contemporary Art Jewelry & Foundations

UW-Stout's Department of Art and Art History, School of Art and Design, College of Arts, Communication, Humanitiesand Social Sciences is seeking applications for a full-time lecturer, one-year academic contract.The anticipated start date is August 23, 2021

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• M.F.A. in a Metals Studio Art Discipline
• Active Professional Metals Practice
• Evidence of teaching potential

Click here for complete details.

Deadline Extended to Monday, April 6th

For 72 years, the Michigan Silversmiths Guild’s mission has been to broaden knowledge of Metalsmithing and to facilitate communication and interaction between metalsmiths.

This juried exhibition aims to continue that mission by bringing together the diverse work of our current members. The connections and artistic expressions our members have forged will allow the guild to remain strong into the future. The SNAG conference theme Grit to Gold fits our members perfectly, as they continue to persevere and explore materials, techniques and modes of expression inspired by our history while creating something new and “golden.”

The SNAG has now canceled its 2020 Conference due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Connection+Expression will go on as a virtual exhibition on the Michigan Silversmiths Guild Website

About SNAG Adorned Spaces:

The in-person exhibitions at Adorned Spaces have been canceled.

Juror:

Tom Muir is Distinguished Professor of the Arts at Bowling Green State University, where he is head of the Jewelry and Metalsmithing area in the School of Art. He received his MFA from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his BFA degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Mr. Muir has lectured and taught widely, holding positions at universities and craft schools around the country. His award-winning work has been published and exhibited extensively in art, craft and design exhibitions. Collections include the Art Institute of Chicago, Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and The White House Collection of American Crafts, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Eligibility:

Exhibition is open to current members of The Michigan Silversmith’s Guild. Apply or renew membership.

How to Enter:

Fill out the following google form.

No Fee to Enter!

Timeline:

Deadline for Submissions: April 6th

Notification of Acceptance: April 13th

Date of Online Exhibition: TBA

Please click here for details and for the application form to apply to participate in the MSG booth at the Stoney Creek Art Fair in Stoney Creek, July 25-26, 2020. 

Please note, you need to complete a separate application for each of the fares in which you are interested in participating. 

Please click here for details and for the application form to apply to participate in the MSG booth at the South University Ann Arbor Art Fair in Ann Arbor, July 16-19, 2020. 

Please note, you need to complete a separate application for each of the fares in which you are interested in participating. 

Michigan Silversmith's Guild: Connection and Expression

Juried exhibition at the SNAG Conference 2020

For 72 years, the Michigan Silversmiths Guild’s mission has been to broaden knowledge of Metalsmithing and to facilitate communication and interaction between metalsmiths.

This juried exhibition aims to continue that mission by bringing together the diverse work of our current members. The connections and artistic expressions our members have forged will allow the guild to remain strong into the future. The conference theme Grit to Gold fits our members perfectly, as they continue to persevere and explore materials, techniques and modes of expression inspired by our history while creating something new and “golden.”

About SNAG Adorned Spaces:

Our exhibition will be part of the Adorned Spaces exhibition at the 2020 SNAG conference: Grit to Gold. This on-site exhibition features twenty-four individually curated pop-up galleries offering a fresh look at the field of contemporary adornment. This juried exhibition will highlight both established and emerging artists to celebrate innovations in jewelry and metalsmithing. 

Juror:

Tom Muir is Distinguished Professor of the Arts at Bowling Green State University, where he is head of the Jewelry and Metalsmithing area in the School of Art. He received his MFA from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his BFA degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Mr. Muir has lectured and taught widely, holding positions at universities and craft schools around the country. His award-winning work has been published and exhibited extensively in art, craft and design exhibitions. Collections include the Art Institute of Chicago, Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and The White House Collection of American Crafts, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Eligibility:

Exhibition is open to current members of The Michigan Silversmith’s Guild. Apply or renew membership.

How to Enter:

Fill out the following google form.

To pay by PayPal:

Artist Name

Space Limitations:

Due to space restrictions, pieces can be no larger than 20” in any direction

Application Fee:

$15 for up to three entries.

Application fee will be refunded if accepted artist signs up to help install the exhibition on May 20^th

Sales:

All work must be for sale, and 25% of all sales will be donated to SNAG.

Timeline:

Deadline for Submissions: March 30th

Notification of Acceptance: April 7th

Delivery of Work (If not attending SNAG Conference): May 15^th

Date of Installation: May 20^th

Exhibition Dates:

Thursday, May 21  |  10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday, May 22   | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Closing Reception Friday May 22  |  5:30 – 7:30 pm Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available.

Location:

The exhibition will be held at SNAG’s Grit to Gold: Future Fifty Conference in Philadelphia. MSG’s exhibition will be located in the Adorned Spaces exhibition in the Philadelphia Ballrooms North and South in the Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia Hotel (also known as Philadelphia 201).

Delivery of Work Options:

Hand Delivery at the SNAG Conference:

If you are planning on attending the SNAG conference, you may hand deliver the work to Jennifer Marcson (419-202-3387), or another MSG volunteer in the Philadelphia Ballroom on the Mezzanine Level from 3-7pm.

Shipping:

All shipped work must be received by Friday, May 15^th

Artists are responsible for all shipping costs. You must include a prepaid return shipping label or postage in your shipping container.

                        MSG Adorned Spaces c/o Jennifer Marcson

                        131 Liberty St.

                        Bowling Green, OH 43402

Hand Delivery to Armstrong Tool:

Work can be delivered to Mary Kernahan at Armstrong Tool (31541 W. Eight Mile, Livonia) from Wednesday May 13^th through Friday May 15th from 10a to 5p.

Mary can be reached via phone at 734-890-4536. You may have a representative drop off your work.

Display:

Work will be displayed on tables at the conference, we have no access to walls for this exhibition. Artist-made stands may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Include a picture of your work on any stands or hanging devices you may want to include.

Liability:

SNAG is not responsible for the previous condition of artwork. SNAG shall provide insurance coverage for each item during the period of its control for an amount equal to that of the estimated wholesale value as herein designated by the Lender. In the event of a loss it will be the responsibility of the Lender to establish to the satisfaction of SNAG’s insurer that the declared wholesale value for each loaned item is the fair market value.

The work will be covered by MSG’s liability policy while work is in MSG’s possession before and after the exhibition.

Pick up of Work:

At the Conference:

You may pick up work in the Philadelphia Ballroom on the Mezzanine Level on Friday, May 22^nd from 8-10pm.

Armstrong Tool:

Wednesday May 27^th through Friday May 29th from 10am to 5pm.

You may have a representative pick your work up for you; however, you must notify us in advance.

When: October 3, 2019, 6:00pm

Where: College for Creative Studies, Ford Campus, 201 E. Kirby, Detroit, MI. 48202, Room B 211 Kresge-Ford Bld.

Co-sponsored by Smith Shop

Stephen Yusko lives and works in Cleveland, OH, where he creates forged, machined and fabricated steel vessels, furniture and sculpture. Yusko has taught at several schools and universities, including Haystack School of Crafts (ME), Penland School of Crafts (NC), and State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase, where he was a Windgate Artist-in-Residence; and served for nine years as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Haystack School of Crafts. He has exhibited his work widely including the Metal Museum (TN) and the Ruthin Craft Centre (Wales, UK) and is the recipient of two Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Excellence Awards and a Cuyahoga County Creative Workforce Fellowship Award. See more at www.stephenyusko.com and on Instagram @stephenyuskostudios

Annual All Member Meeting will be held at College for Creative Studies on Sunday October 13th.

The meeting will be in the metals studio in the Kresge Ford building, beginning with lunch at 12:30 pm and business meeting beginning at 1 pm.

This year’s lecturer will be MSG member Michael Nashef. Michael has a Masters of Fine Art from Bowling Green State University with a concentration in jewelry design, enameling, and metalsmithing, as well as a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts of Metal/Jewelry Design from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. In addition to his work at Nashef Design, he is also the owner and designer of the commercial bridal line, “Intersecting Hearts®”. More about Michael and his work can be found at www.nashefdesigns.com and www.intersectinghearts.com.

As always, the meeting will include board elections, everyone’s favorite tool swap, vendors, MSG SWAG, networking, and fellowship. You can also renew your membership on site. If you are interested in running for a board position, please contact Jayson Olson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more infroamtion about the tool swap, please contact Danielle Blanchard at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We look forward to seeing you there!

Maker Works is having an Open House on Saturday, September 14th from 2pm - 5pm, to celebrate our 8th year of making!

We'll be running tool demonstrations of the laser cutter, plasma cutter, shopbot, 3D Printing and more.

In the past year we've added Form 2 Resin 3D Printing, a Bead Blaster + Powder Coating Booth + Oven, and a beefier 12" Compound Miter Saw. We'll also have a showcase of member projects.

All are welcome to visit!

Event page: https://www.maker-works.com/events/2019/9/14/8th-anniversary-open-house

MSG is seeking artists to demonstrate at this year’s Ann Arbor Art Fair Booth. In keeping with the Guild’s mission to educate others about the craft of metalsmithing, the Guild is providing demonstrations of metalsmithing techniques throughout the duration of the art fair. In return, on the day(s) of the demo, participating members will be able to display and sell work that is related to or derivative of the technique demonstrated. It’s a wonderful way to gain some art fair experience and have the chance to sell your work!  All current MSG members are eligible to apply.
 
ENTRY PROCEDURE:  We are not requiring applicants to submit images of their work. Instead, using the application form below, please send a detailed description of your demonstration. Details should include the techniques you plan to demonstrate, along with the tools and materials you plan to use (while MSG has a good selection of tools, you should check with the coordinators for specific tools, and you are responsible for supplying your materials). Demonstrations do not need to be complicated - often a technique can be repeated as spectators come and go. Demos that involve hammers and/or noise or that are highly interactive are especially well-received. No open flames are allowed at the art fair - please plan accordingly.

OTHER INFORMATION:  Demonstration artists must be present for the full day of their demonstration at the art fair, no matter when their specific demonstration is. (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday hours are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Sunday hours are 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.) You are also expected to booth-sit for other South University Art Fair artists throughout parts of the day. (This is usually 3-4 hours of the rest of your day.)
 
WORKS FOR SALE: Demonstrators may submit up to 20 works for sale relating to their demo technique. As with the regular exhibitors, all works for sale will need to be inventoried prior to their display at the art fair. An inventory spreadsheet, along with instructions on how to tag and price your work, will be provided with the acceptance letter.
 
ENTRY FORMS:  Please fill out the entry form (click Here) and return via regular mail or email by July 5, 2019 to:
 
Charlotte Allen
9298 Crane Road
Milan, MI  48160
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Inventory instructions and assigned demo times will be mailed out by July 12, 2019. If applying via regular mail, please provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for this purpose.
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Charlotte Allen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lorraine Kolasa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MSG’s 2019 College Graduation Exhibition honoring the graduates of Bowling Green State University and College for Creative Studies will be opening this Saturday, June 15 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room Gallery of the City Hall Artspace Lofts in Dearborn. Exhibiting this year are Kathryn Valentine Clapsaddle (BGSU), Jennifer Nickey Marcson (BGSU), Adwowa Atta Panyin Osei (BGSU) and Cai Steen (CCS).

Please join MSG in an evening of fellowship showcasing the work of our newest metalsmithing graduates while celebrating with a casual graduation party. Light refreshments will be served.

For those that cannot make the opening, the exhibition will be open during the afternoon of Sunday June 16.

City Hall Artspace Lofts are located at 13615 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI (at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Shaefer). The gallery is located in the rear of the Annex with a patio gate entrance at the NE corner of John Nagy Drive and Maple. There is free parking on the SE corner directly across the street.