February 16, 2007

Workshops available for art teachers

by Sun Min

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Carbondale's School of Art and Design is offering workshops for art teachers who want to brush up on their skills. The cost for each class is $20 and registration is required. For a copy of the registration form, call 618/453-4315.

The first workshop features Jason P. Urban, SIUC assistant professor of art and head of the printmaking department. He will present a silkscreening demonstration on Saturday, March 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second floor of the Allyn Building on campus. Urban will use low-tech stencils (contact paper and drawing fluid), demonstrate multi-color printing and discuss strategies for integrating silkscreens into art class. He will also give advice about printing on a budget, photo emulsion without a darkroom and T-shirt/fabric printing.

Participants will design and create a two-color image. Attendees must bring 20 pieces of various types of paper that are 8 1/2 inches x 11 inches or larger, a Sharpie marker, a roll of 2-inch masking tape, an Exacto knife and a brown bag lunch.

Silkscreen printing, or serigraphy, is a stencil-based form of printmaking made famous by such pop artists as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Its roots are in commerce but fine artists embrace it due to the flexibility of silkscreen printing.

The second workshop, set for Saturday, April 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pulliam Industrial Wing, will explore plastic jewelry casting using pigments and pearl powders. These processes and materials can produce non-allergenic and inexpensive jewelry that require minimal equipment. Casting and carving plastics also represents an exciting trend in the jewelry field. Nathan H. Dube, SIUC visiting assistant professor in the metals program, will run the workshop.

Participants must wear a long-sleeved shirt and bring to class a small range of objects which could be cast into resin, one package of disposable latex gloves, a dust mask, eye protection and a brown bag lunch.